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May 9, 2008
A Palmerton homicide trial ends with a plea agreement. Richard Higgins, Jr. died last July, several weeks after he got into a street fight with Joseph Roscioli, Michael Harrison, and a 15 year old juvenile. Today, Harrison and Roscioli both pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, and reckless endangerment. Roscioli also pleaded guilty to corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors. Felony aggravated assault charges were dropped. Under the plea deal, both men face two to four years behind bars. They will be sentenced at a later date.
May 9, 2008
The teen accussed of pulling the trigger and killing a Wayne County man is sentenced in court. 19 year old Cody Steich of Honesdale told the court he takes full responsibility for his actions. Last year Steich plotted with his girlfriend Clarissa Luyster and Clarissa's mother Patricia to kill 41 year old Ronald Luyster. Steich was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison.
May 8, 2008
Stroud area regional police say they will rely on residents to let them know about people riding all-terrain vehicles illegally. The police department has received several complaints that people are riding A-T-V's in areas where they are not allowed. Spots like the levee system along the Brodhead Creek between Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg are seeing alot more A-T-V's. In some parts the grass has been ripped up. Police say it is up to residents to call if they spot someone riding illegally. If you are caught riding an A-T-V where it is prohibited. You could face fines and lose your vehicle.
May 8, 2008
Communications officials in Wayne County have to make a choice, stay low or go high...
Many fire departments currently use frequencies on what's commonly called the low band. Low band is being phased out by the F-C-C and equipment is becoming more expensive. Earlier this year the county began a study of high band frequencies to see if they would work just as well. Wayne 911 Coordinator Marty Hedgelon says the study shows high band would provide better coverage to most parts of the county so officials have decided to make the switch to high band. Wayne County has set aside 170-thousand dollars to upgrade their communications towers. Firefighters are also applying for a 750-thousand dollar grant to purchase new high band equipment.
May 8, 2008
A Franklin Township church is facing a growing problem, as the size of its congregation has nearly tripled in the past few years. Now they've run out of space. The Sunday attendance at the Lighthouse Baptist Church has topped three hundred. But an expansion project is now underway which will eventually double the size of the building. The expansion will include new officies, Sunday school classrooms, and a gymnasium. Work on the project is scheduled to wrap up by this Christmas.
May 8, 2008
The Palmerton Cross Country team is hosting the first ever Beltzville-Bomber 5k event on Saturday. Proceeds from the race are going to help set-up a scholarship fund for a deserving athlete. About 70 runners have already pre-registered. If you haven't already signed-up you can register for the Beltzville-Bomber 5k Saturday, May 10th, before the race which starts at 10:00. Organizers say if you still need to register be sure you come out early.
May 8, 2008
Police and fire officals rescue a teenage boy lost in the woods last night. Police confirm a juvenile got lost in the woods of Mahoning Mountain last night around nine. According to police it took rescuers from Mahoning Township and Lehighton an hour to find the boy. Witnesses say the 17-year old male entered the woods and couldn't find his way out because it was too dark. He was found safe and sound.
May 8, 2008
State police say around noon yesterday, 83-year old James Minnehan of Kresgeville lost control of his car on Pohopoco Drive about a 1/2 mile from Penn Forest Road in Towamensing Township. According to police reports Minnehan drove through the guide rail and down a 30 foot bank. Because of the remote location it wasn't until almost 8 p.m. when two passing motorists noticed the car and Minnehan laying next to the vehicle. Witnesses say ropes were used to help Minnehan up the embankment. Police say he was wearing his seatbelt and escaped the accident with only minor injuries.
May 8, 2008
Witnesses say an 83-year old man was driving down a hill on Quarry Road just before two when he failed to stop at the ineresection of Quarry Road and a minning road. According to witnesses the driver crossed the intersection and hit an embankment which launced his car into the water. The man was trapped in his pickup truck as it started to sink. Witnesses say a West Penn Township police officer slid down the bank into the quarry and rescuded the elderly man who was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital.
May 8, 2008
It's day two of testimony in a Palmerton homicide trial. Today, the victim's son takes the stand. Richard Higgins, III was present during a fight which led to his father's death. The younger Higgins claims he tried to protect himself and his father from further harm after a group of young men started fighting with them. Two of those men, Joseph Roscioli and Michael Harrison, face involuntary manslaughter charges after the incident. Several witnesses testified the elder Higgins threw the first punch, but said the group of young men were the aggressors in the fight. Testimony in this homicide trial continues tomorrow...
May 7, 2008
A fire two weeks ago at an old factory in East Stroudsburg has been ruled arson and some juveniles could face charges. The blaze heavily damaged the old International Boiler Workers building off of Route 209. Investigators tell TV-13 a group of teenagers was hanging out inside the building right before the fire. They are not saying how the blaze was set. So far no charges have been filed. The old building was used to make industrial boilers. It closed in the early 1990's.
May 7, 2008
A traffic stop leads police to cocaine worth more than 20-thousand dollars on Interstate 380 in Monroe County. State police say they stopped 31 year old Dexter Scotland of Elmira, New York around ten last night on I-380 just north of Interstate 80 in Tunkhannock Township. Police say Scotland was following too close, didn't use a turn signal and didn't a have a license plate attached to his car. In the car officers say they found powder and crack cocaine with a street value of 23-thousand dollars. Police say a two year old child was also a passenger. Scotland faces charges of child endangerment as well as drug possession.
May 7, 2008
It's the first homicide case in Palmerton in more than ten years. Today, two men accused of that crime face a jury. Defense attorneys for Joseph Roscioli and Michael Harrison claim their clients were only defending themselves in a fight that turned deadly. A coroner ruled the death of Richard Higgins, Jr. a homicide. Palmerton police say a fight broke out after Higgins confronted Roscioli, Harrison, and two juveniles about the boys allegedly throwing an iced tea carton at his car. Testimony continues tomorrow in the case...
May 7, 2008
The man accused of swinging a baseball bat and hitting East Stroudsburg Mayor Armand Martinelli and another man in 2006 has been caught. Melvin Cowhart was picked up by US Marshalls in Newark Tuesday. He faces assault charges for the bat beating. Martinelli was coming to help another man when he was attacked. US Marshalls assited police in searching for Cowhart
May 7, 2008
A Honesdale man who fled the state after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from 2 veterans organizations was in court today. While holding officer positions at both the American Legion and the Wayne County Veterans Center, 60 year old John Visci allegedly stole 30 thousand dollars between the two groups. Today he chose to waive his rights to a preliminary hearing and now the legion is focusing on getting their money back. Visci is scheduled to go to trial in September
May 6, 2008
The DEP is investigating at least six barrels containing an unknown substance unearthed during excavation for a new Lehigh Township park in Northampton County. The drums ahve since been covered by a tarp and the area is now surrounded by an orange snow fence. Crews building the 44-acre park found the drums, and called in state officails to invesigate. Officials say the barrels pose no immediate risk to nearby houses. The investigation is excpected to last several weeks...
May 6, 2008
Clair Troxell is ordered to pay around $4,000 in fines for illegally having pigs, junk and cars on his West Bowmans Road property. Troxell faces three fines of around $1,000 each, which is much less than the $8,000 each the township was seeking when they filed three civil complaints last week. Troxell has 30 days to appeal; if he does not appeal he must pay the township $1,500 for the pigs, $1,000 each for the cars and the junk, and court costs.
May 6, 2008
Thieves are targeting the gravesites of veteran's in Monroe County...stealing grave markers that are made of copper and brass. Pocono Lake Cemetary had over 2-hundred markers stolen in the last six months. It is likely thieves are selling the markers for scrap metal. At least 8 cemetaries have been targeted in the county. Officials are replacing marker with cheaper aluminum ones.
May 6, 2008
Police say 34-year old Wendy Fronczak was passing a truck on interstate 81 in Delano around 8:15 a.m. when she lost control of her car and drove into an embankment on the side of the road causing her vehicle to roll. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Fronczak was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital with moderate injuries.
May 6, 2008
After 4 long years detour signs on one Pike County road will soon be coming down. Back in September of 2004 heavy rains washed out a part of Twin Lakes Road in Shohola, and ever since officials have been working to get it fixed. But everyone agrees on one thing, with the three and a half mile detour and rising gas prices residents can't wait for the road to re-open. Officials say the construction should be complete by the end of the month.
May 6, 2008
Anthony Pascoe told police officers that he was stabbed after a verbal argument turned physcial. According to Tamaqua Police, officers were contacted by Saint Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale just before 3 a.m. about a stabbing victim. Police say Pascoe stated he got into an argument with 34-year old John Juan in the 300 block of Pine Street when the two started wrestling. Juan fled the scene after Pascoe yelled that he had been stabbed by Juan. According to police, Juan was later taken into custody without incident.
May 6, 2008
Do you have a piece of Walnutport history? If so, a group of residents want to hear from you. They're putting together a Walnutport centennial history book. The committee has been meeting once a week to go through old photos, maps, and books to get ready for next year's centennial celebration. If you have any historical items you'd like to contribute to the book, contact the Walnutport Borough Office. There will also be a section in the book dedicated to family histories. If you'd like to include your family in the book, contact Tim Snyder at 610-767-5935.
May 5, 2008
For the past several years Wal-Mart has saved customers millions of dollars with their low cost generic prescription drugs. But now there's even bigger savings thanks to the retail giant. The Arkansas-based megastore announced Monday it will begin selling 90-day supplies of generic drugs for just $10. Anyone is elegible for the low-cost plan. A complete listing of the available drugs can be found at every Wal-Mart pharmacy..
May 5, 2008
New seats are popping up all over carbon county thanks the 2008 class of Leadership Carbon. The class is busy making benches and a step-by-step instructional pamphlet so others can make even more benches in classroom or community projects. You can try out the benches as they get delieverd to six area school districts including Palmerton and Carbon Career and Technical Institute. The benches are recognizable by their shinny Leadership Carbon plaques.
May 5, 2008
It's time for the Slatington Volunteer Fire Department's Annual Spring Carnival. The fun starts tomorrow, May 6th, and runs through Sunday. There's something for everyone including rides, games and tons food. The carnival is at the Slatington Fire Station on West Church Street from 6 - 1p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 6 - 11 p.m. on Friday; 4 - 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 - 8 p.m. on Sunday.
May 5, 2008
Jim Thorpe council member Joseph Krebs was arrested back in February after police say he showed up at police headquarters during a snowstorm to dispute a parking ticket his son was getting. Krebs was allegedly intoxicated and became belligerent with police. Today charges of public drunkenness against him were withdrawn. According to a court spokesperson, a plea agreement was reached for a disorderly conduct charge for the incident; if there are no other problems through August 11th all fines and costs are suspended.
May 5, 2008
A Northampton County man has been killed in a weekend accident in Wayne County. State police say 24-year old Eric Kenyon of Easton died when his Ford Escape rolled over on Route 191 in Manchester Township. The accident happened around 2:30 Sunday morning. Kenyon lost control, hit a bank and the vehicle partially rolled over. Police say Kenyon was not wearing a seat belt. He was thrown out of a passenger window. Kenyon was pronounced dead on the scene by the Wayne County Coroner.
May 5, 2008
A planned sale of the Hawley Teleport Satellite Station has been finalized. R-R-Sat global Communications of Israel has completed the purchase of the former Loral Skynet Satellite Station on Kimble’s road in Lackawaxen Township. The sale price was just a little more than four million dollars. The 30-year old station includes 200-acres of land - a 3 story communication building and multiple large satellite dishes and antennas. The facility is the company's first in the United States.
May 5, 2008
A teenage girl is dead after an apparent drug overdose. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office reports 16 year old Katherine Rice passed away Friday afternoon at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Rice and another 16 year old girl stole and swallowed methadone pills from their Kidspeace counselor’s purse. The incident happened at a Saylorsburg Kidspeace group home for troubled youths. The coroner's office will not make an official ruling on rice's cause of death until toxicology tests have been completed. The other teen is still recovering at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Kidspeace has placed the counselor on paid administrative leave until a police investigation is complete.
May 5, 2008
Three businesses damaged by a weekend fire at the Echo Lake shopping plaza in Marshalls Creek will be back open soon. Guiseppe's pizza was gutted in the blaze. The owner has to re-build and hopes to be open in a few months. A daycare center and supermarket were also damage...those businesses expect to be back open in about a week after workers wipe down the insdie. The supermarket has to throw out all of its food. Fire investigators say the blaze is electircal and started in the pizza shop.
May 5, 2008
A jury is picked in the case of a Carbon County beating death. 26 year old Joseph Roscioli is accused in the beating death of 63 year old Richard Higgins, Jr. It happened in downtown Palmerton last June. Roscioli faces several charges, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and corruption of minors. Another man, 18 year old Michael Harrison, also faces involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the incident. Both Harrison and Roscioli will face a jury starting Wednesday.
May 2, 2008
The Red Cross is helping victims of a fire in Stroudsburg find shelter and clothing. At least 8 people were forced out after fire hit this apartment house at the corner of Third and Fulmer Streets Thursday afternoon. A woman and her children lived in the upstairs apartment, that is where investigators believe the blaze began. That area of the home received the most damage. A woman living on the bottom floor was also forced out. A search for the cause of that fire is underway.
May 2, 2008
Troubled New Jersey kids will no longer be sent to Kidspeace, at least for a while. The New Jersey Department Of Children and Families has suspended referrals to the North Whitehall Township agency after a recent incident at a Monroe County Kidspeace facility. Two sixteen year old girls allegedly stole methadone from a counselor’s purse at a Kidspeace group home in Saylorsburg last month. The girls overdosed on the pills and are currently still recovering. A Kidspeace spokesman tells TV-13 he believes the incident was a freak occurrence. He hopes The New Jersey Department of Children And Families will resume referring children to Kidspeace once the investigation is complete.
May 2, 2008
Whether you love or hate Mount Airy Casino resort you have to admit the facility is providing tax relief. The state department of education has released estimates on how much tax revenue Monroe County property owners can county property owners can expect to save because of casino revenue including money raised at Mount Airy. The exact size of the tax reduction depends on where you live. Homeowners in the Stroudsburg school district will receive the smallest rebate--about $330. Pleasant Valley school district homeowners are in line for the biggest reduction--over $450. School district officials say the exact rebate amount won't be known until the state budget is set.
May 2, 2008
The Ceader Street bridge in Tamaqua is closed now through Monday, May 5th, for repairs and paving work. Vehicle traffic is prohibited on the bridge between Greenwood Street and the West driveyway at Boyer's Market. Motorists traveling on route 309 in the area of Cedar Street should expect delays and allow additional time for travel.
May 2, 2008
Over a dozen new computers at the Slatington Public Library are up and running. Officer Daniel Buglio of the Slatington Police Department applied for a $25,000 grant through the Jenny Jones Foundation a few months ago to purchase new computers and printers.
May 2, 2008
The Monroe County district attorney has filed a civil suit to oust James Lambert as the Executive Director of the Monroe County Waste Management Authoirty. Lambert served time in prison for a felony conviction while head of the Mercer County Improvement Authority in New Jersey. He admitted to taking part in trying to bribe a public official. DA Dave Christine aruges Lambert is in a position of public trust...the state constitution does not allow convicted felons to hold positions of trust.
May 2, 2008
Carbon County residents are getting rid of their old electronic equipment the right way at an e-cycling event. The free event is happening at the Lehigh Township building in Weatherly. If you didn't have the chance to bring your electronics to the collection today, it's also going on tomorrow from 9am-1pm. Officials ask people not to leave anything at the collection site unless workers are there. These items won't be accepted:
television sets, microwaves, toasters, air conditioners, fans, and items with freon in them like refrigerators.
May 2, 2008
Organizers of the Milford Music Festival are no longer singing a sad song, officials say the event is back on! Several weeks ago word of the cancellation was buzzing around town, but organizers say new, young energy on the board of directors pressed on and their hard work paid off. Organizers aren't releasing many details yet, but say you should mark your calendars for July12th and 13th.
May 1, 2008
A trash hauling company in Monroe County has been fined for storing trash at a site in Pocono Summit. District Magistrate Richard Claypool has fined Pocono Rubbish 56-thousand dollars for violations of the Monroe County Solid Waste Ordinance. The Monroe Solid Waste Authority says their inspectors began investigating Pocono Rubbish after complaints from residents that they were storing the waste. The facility on route 940 in Pocono Summit had fifty roll off containers filled with construction debris and other waste. Justice Claypool gave Pocono Rubbish twenty-one days to clean the site and said he would consider reducing the fine if they comply.
May 1, 2008
Every year people all over get together for the American Cancer Society's 24-hour walk for cancer called "Relay for Life." Today one Tamaqua Middle students in sixth through eighth grade raised money for the Tamaqua relay in June.
May 1, 2008
Marlene Diehm is retiring as the secretary at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park after 16 years of work. She was suprised today by an unexpected lunch in her honor. Many people including park staff and the commissioners joined Marlene for the celebration where she received an honorary plaque.
May 1, 2008
The five ton weight limit on the 128-year old covered bridge over Buckway creek has been undergoing emergency repairs due to the extremely deteriorated condition of the steel grid flooring. The bridge's weight limit was lowered from 15 tons to five when repairs first began at the beginning of April. Now a carbon county engineer is asking PennDot to make the weight limit change permanent.
May 1, 2008
Police have released the name of the man killed in an accident last night in Monroe County. Pocono township police say 69-year old Alvin Meininger of Tannersville was killed when his Chevy- s-10- pick-up crossed into the northbound lanes of Route 611. The accident happened just before 7pm in front of the State Police Barracks in Swiftwater. Meininger was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman driving the white S-U-V was taken to the hospital for treatment. Pocono Township Police say they're still investigating that accident.
May 1, 2008
A Pike County man will spend the next three-and-a half years in prison on charges stemming from a stabbing last year. State Police say 43-year-old Brian Lee Friedman of Bushkill stabbed 39-year-old Clark Judge at a home on Municipal Drive in Lehman Township last September. Judge was injured in the left side of his chest and was treated at hospital. Police say the two were arguing over money that judge owed to Friedman. Friedman’s total sentence is three-and a half to eight years and he must serve it in a state prison.
May 1, 2008
Officials at the Split Rock Resort in Kidder Township want to add a 500 Slot Machine Parlor to its list of attractions...but first they need to be awarded a Class-3 Gaming License. A hearing was held Thursday morning between the state gaming board, Kidder Township residents, and resort officials. Public opinion to the casino has been overwhelmingly positive. Split Rock owner W. Jack Kalins says he feels confident his resort will be granted a license. The Gaming Board is expected to hand down a decision by the end of this year....
May 1, 2008
Lace up those sneakers and stretch your muscles...it's almost Senior Game time in Carbon County! Age is definitely just a number as seniors compete in a variety of competitions including basketball, shuffleboard, swimming, and mini golf. The games heat up starting Tuesday. The official deadline to register for the Senior Games has already passed, but officials say you can still sign up to compete until the day of the event. Call 610-824-7830 for more information.
May 1, 2008
If spelling is your thing, the Carbon County Area Agency on Aging wants to hear from you! They need participants for the 2008 Pennsylvania Older Adults Spelling Championship. The winner of the local competition will move on to a statewide challenge in York County. The local spelling bee is scheduled for May 20 at 1:30pm at the Panther Valley Senior Center in Nesquehoning. Adults 55 years and older are eligible to participate. If you're interested, call 1-800-441-1315 to register.
April 30, 2008
Lots of support for the owners of Fernwood Resort in their quest to get a slots license. About 80 people turned up at this public hearing with the State Gaming Control Board to voice their opinions. A majority of the people who spoke in favor of the application were nearby business owners and Fernwood employees. They spoke of how 5-hundred slot machines would bring more tourists to the area, create 80-plus jobs and increase revenue. Two people spoke out against the application, mainly over traffic and crime issues. One resident brought along a petition with names of 2-hundred residents who are opposed to gambling.
April 30, 2008
A suspicious device that resembled a homemade bomb caused some tense moments at a construction site near Lake Wallenpaupack. The Pike County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad was called to investigate the twelve by two inch device yesterday at the drake plaza along Route 507 in Palmyra Township. They determined the home-made device was a piece of p-v-c pipe covered with electrical tape and filled with rocks. The bomb squad disassembled the device and disposed of it without incident.
April 30, 2008
Many of you may recognize him, or even had him as your principal, but after 40 years of service with the Wallenpaupack School District Tom Kennedy is retiring. Kennedy started with the district back in 1968 as a high school english teacher. After 6 years he decided to move out of the classroom and into an administrative position. He has been the North Elementary Principal ever since. Kennedy says he looks forward to traveling with his wife in his retirement. His last day is scheduled for August 8th. The school will soon start searching for his replacement.
April 29, 2008
Police in Pike County are looking for a burglar who broke into a church rectory while the priest was celebrating mass next door. It happened Saturday At Saint Ann's Church in Shohola. Someone entered the rectory between four and six-pm saturday afternoon - through an unlocked window. Pastor Thomas Major says the burglar took electronics, personal items, 25-hundred dollars cash and religious relics. One church member saw an older model white ford bronco or explorer that could be connected to the crime. State Police at Blooming Grove are investigating the break-in. Saint Ann’s has remained open at most times in the past but the pastor now says he will lock the church doors.
April 29, 2008
If you’ve searched for unclaimed cash on the Pennsylvania Treasury’s website in the past you may want to check again. Each year, the treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property from abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, checks that have not been cashed, or other unclaimed monies. New unclaimed monies are posted regularly. To find out if you have unclaimed property you can visit treasury’s website at www.patreasury.org or call the unclaimed property hotline at 1-800-222-2046. Last year the treasury returned 88-million dollars to about 63-thousand people.
April 29, 2008
Lighting up in Lehighton's public parks may soon be a thing of the past. Lehighton Borough is proposing an ordinance that would ban smoking in their public parks. Officials say a smoking ban would set a good example for the children. The ban is stsill several months away from going into effect...
April 29, 2008
$25,000 worth of computers are finally in the Slatington Library. The computers are being set-up thanks to officer Daniel Buglio of the Slatington Police Department who got the large grant from the Jenny Jones Foundation. Over a dozen computers and several printers should be ready for use within a day.
April 29, 2008
A Jim Thorpe police officer fired for time card discrepencies is fighting to get his job back. Borough council voted in a 5 to 2 vote to fire K-9 officer Todd Leslie earlier this month for falsifying his time cards. Leslie and his lawyer have made a resquest with the borough Civil Service Commission to appeal Leslie's firing. His attorney doesn't believe there is merit for officer leslie's firing. They are seeking re-instatement with full pay back.
April 29, 2008
A Palmerton man who lead police on a high speed chase waives his right to a preliminary hearing. 26-year old Jason Dunbar was arrested by police on February 15 th when he fled from Tamaqua and West Penn Township police after an under cover cop tried to arrest him for selling drugs. One officer was stuck by a hypodermic needle when searching Dunbar; the search did turn up heroin and drug paraphernalia. Charges were bound over to Carbon County Court.
April 29, 2008
The emergency room wait at the Blue Mountain Health System Palmerton campus just got shorter. The hospital opened its Express Care service yesterday, and ten patients have already taken advantage of it. Express Care is for patients who don't have an emergency, but still need medical attention. Two rooms in the emergency department are dedicated to Express Care. Blue Mountain hopes to expand the program once the idea catches on.
April 28, 2008
Police in Stroudsburg are investigating an armed robbery at a gas station last night. Two men approached an attendant at the Hess station on North Ninth Street around 8:30. One of the men had a silver handgun. The robber demanded money that the attendant had from pumping gas. The attendant gave him the cash but one of the suspects still punched him in the face causing him to fall down. Both men fled in the direction of Main Street. They are described as both being black males wearing black clothing and black ski masks. Anyone with information about the hold-up is asked to contact Stroud Area Regional Police.
April 28, 2008
State gaming officials will hold a hearing about a proposed casino at the Fernwood Resort in Bushkill this week. Fernwood is one of three resorts to apply for a category three - resort slots license. Hearings will be held Wednesday starting at 9-am at the Middle Smithfield Township building on Municipal Drive. Two resort licenses are available. Split Rock resort in Lake Harmony is also seeking a license along with a convention center in Valley Forge. Split rock will have a hearing Thursday. A category three license would be limited to five-hundred slot machines and only people staying at the resort would be allowed to gamble.
April 28, 2008
With the arrival of spring one of Pennsylvania’s residents is waking up after a long nap. The State Game Commission says that means about 14-thousand black bears will be out looking for something to eat across the state. The commission is recommending that residents take extra steps to make sure bears don’t associate their homes with a free meal. They advise residents not to put out their garbage until pickup day, not to throw out table scraps and to keep pet food indoors. If a bear shows up in your backyard, they say to stay calm. Shout at it like you would to chase an unwanted dog. Don't approach it. If the bear won't leave, call the nearest Game Commission Regional Office or local police department for assistance.
April 28, 2008
With a half-inch of rain already fallen, and another half-inch predicted, the 2008 spring brush fire season may be over as fast as it started. But that's not stopping the investigations of at least a dozen suspicious fires across Carbon County in the month of April. Officials say it will be some time before they wrap up the investigations. Evidence is often burned in arson fires, and any suspect(s) may never be caught, officials say...
April 28, 2008
Going green can cost a lot of green, but the state may start paying back energy efficient homeowners. A whole package of energy bills is floating around Harrisburg. Lawmakers want to encourage people to go green by turning to alternative energy sources, which can be costly. Local businesses, like WB Electric of Jim Thorpe, offer energy efficient products. Lawmakers hope to offer financial incentives to entice homeowners to go green.
April 28, 2008
The Wallenpaupack School District has come up with a way to put a stop to students skipping class. Last year the district ran a test by having 14 of their most truant students and their parents sign a Truancy Elimination Plan. This plan states after 3 unexcused absences a letter is sent home, after 5 a letter is sent home and an administrator calls the parents, and after 7 unexcused absences the local magistrate is notified. After implementing the truancy program with the original 14 students, their attendance rates increased almost 20 percent.
April 25, 2008
The early summer-like weather has meant a big boost to the whitewater rafting industry. Several local rafting centers are reporting a thirty percent increase in business this spring season. They credit the warm weather for luring rafters out of their homes and onto the Lehigh River. The first dam release of 2008 is set for the weekend of May 10th...
April 25, 2008
The old International Boilerworks Building in East Stroudsburg caught fire Friday. The building has been abandoned since the early 1990's...the smoky fire started in the west side of the building...crews sprayed water on the other side and in some nearby brush to stop fire from spreading. Neighbors say homeless people frequent the building. No one was hurt. The cause is under investigation.
April 25, 2008
Palmerton Area School District is investing in the future...to the tune of $200,000. Students are using cutting-edge technology to learn their math and english lessons. Nine classrooms are wired for the future with laptops and smart boards. Palmerton was able to purchase this equipment through a state grant. Teachers are already noticing that students are more interested in school because of the technology. Palmerton hopes to get the same equipment for the science and social studies classrooms next year.
April 25, 2008
In response to continuing dry conditions across the area, Schuylkill County Commissioners have ordered an emergency burn ban for the entire county starting tomorrow. The ban is in effect for 30 days. If you have any questions about the status of burning in your area, contact you local municipal office for more information.
April 24, 2008
A federal jury has acquitted an undercover agent with the State Attorney General's Office in a civil suit filed by the mother of a man the agent shot in Monroe County. The jury ruled the agent was not liable in the death of Barron Josiah wright. Wright was shot by the agent after they did an undercover drug purchase with him in a diner parking lot in 2004. An agent shot wright as he tried to pull away. Wright's mother had sued saying his death was not justified. An investigation by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office also ruled Wrights shooting death was justified.
April 24, 2008
Part of River Road near Shawnee will close next week for repairs. The closure begins Monday and will run 7 am to 4:30 pm through Wednesday. The National Park Service says the work is necessary to restore proper drainage along the road corridor and includes removal of debris and leaf litter from the roadway and the shoulders. Park visitors will still be able to use the Hialeah Picnic Area and the McDade Recreational Trail while the road is closed. Gates will be closed off river road to traffic at each end while the work is underway.
April 24, 2008
A driver is facing homicide by motor vehicle charges stemming from a fatal accident last year in Pike County. State Police at Blooming Grove have charged 23-year old Lauren Phillips of Lackawaxen with homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter and other counts. Police say Phillips was driving drunk when she lost control on welcome lake road in Lackawaxen Township last November 22nd. Phillips' s-u-v rolled over and hit a tree. 53-year old Ronald Turbiak of Lackawaxen was killed. Phillips is being held in the Pike County Correctional Facility awaiting a hearing before a district justice.
April 24, 2008
Historians are banding together to save a piece of history in Carbon County. The Thomas Mansion, located in Lansford, has been vacant for the past few years after serving as St. Ann's Convent for decades. The Diocese of Allentown plans to knock it down to make way for a parking lot. The nearby St. Ann's School will be used for low income senior housing. Historians say they aren't against the housing project, they just don't want to lose the mansion. A spokesperson from the Diocese of Allentown tells TV-13 in order to make their project handicapped accessible, it needs to knock down the mansion. The Diocese has been working with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission throughout the project planning.
April 24, 2008
After months of reporting traffic increases, Lehigh Valley International Airport has a bit of bad news to pass along. LVIA saw a slight passenger decrease in March. But the year-to-date total is still higher than it was last year at this time. Airport officials feel high fuel prices and a slowing economy are finally catching up to LVIA. It's a trend that's been affecting airlines all across the country.
April 24, 2008
In the last month 11 DV students have been expelled for prescription drug abuse, but officials say the scary part is that number is only the ones who got caught. School officials say they are doing everything they can to put a stop to this before it gets out of hand. They've sent a letter home to parents, held seminars, and spoke with students. But one things for sure, this behavior won't be tolerated at school or anywhere else. Officials say to keep an eye on your prescriptions and if your no longer taking them, destroy them.
April 24, 2008
Despite a reduced weight limit now in effect on the covered bridge in Lower Towamensing Township, business owners are weary of the bridge eventually closing. Carbon County Commissioners have been informed by the county inspector repairs would top nearly $400,000. Ron Gilbert, owner of the Covered Bridge Inn, says he relies on traffic that cross the bridge every day especially during ski season. He plans to form a committee made up of local residents and business owners to find ways to save the bridge.
April 23, 2008
A murder case may finally be solved in Monroe County. The Monroe District Attorney’s Office says Thomas Cook has plead guilty to third degree murder and admitted to killing Randy Huegel in 2001. Cook was set to face a murder trial next month even though authorities had never found Huegel’s body. On April second authorities say cook lead them to the Eagle Claw Rod and Gun Club in Price Township and showed them the spot where he had buried Huegel. A positive identification was made using dental records. Cook is now facing 20 to 40 years in prison.
April 23, 2008
Kidder Township officials want to make sure another medical treatment center will never be able to move into a residential area. The proposed methadone clinic at the busy intersections of Route 80, 940, and the Turnpike has sparked outrage with township residents. But by law, zoning allows for such a facility at that location. Supervisors are now in the process of amending the current zoning laws...
April 23, 2008
Hillary Clinton got what she wanted out of the Pennsylvania primary...a victory. But Carbon County election officials got less than they expected yesterday. Even though voter turnout was higher than usual, it was still less than projected numbers. About 56% of registered Democrats actually voted. Only 30% of Republicans made it to the polls in Carbon County.
April 23, 2008
Four engines, 2 ATV's and 14 Fire Fighters were on hand, but the fire was set on purpose. If you noticed smoke hanging over parts of Delaware Township and wondered what it was, we have the answer: The NPS had a presrcribed burn. And even though burn bans are held in Shohola, Green and Blooming Grove Townships officials say this is the perfect time for the burn. The burn is to help maintain the character of the Park by keeping fields from turning into forest.
April 23, 2008
Several townships and boroughs have put burn bans in place due to the dry conditions.
In Carbon County:
Towamensing Twp.
Mahoning Twp.
Lower Towamensing Twp.
East Penn Twp.
Nesquehoning
Jim Thorpe
Parryville
In Lehigh County:
Washington Twp.
If you have any questions about the status of burning where you live, contact your local municipality for more information.
April 22, 2008
Carbon County officials are makign sure they are ready if a pandemic flu were to strike the area. It is estimated that a pandemic flu would affect one half of the county's population. That's why the state department of health met with county officials, school districts, state pollice, and other agencies Monday afternoon to plan ahead in case diasaster strikes...
April 22, 2008
Spring is the season of giving life. There's no better way to celebrate than to donate blood to help save lives. The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley is holding to blood drives this week and next week. You can donate this week on Thursday, April 24th, from 1 - 6 p.m at the Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall. Or, you can donate next week on Wednesday, April 30th, from 1 - 6 p.m. at Blue Mountain Health System in Lehighton.
April 22, 2008
Republican Doyle Heffley's name will appear on the November ballot for state representative of Carbon County. Today, he took his campaign green. Since the primary election fell on earth day Doyle handed out over 600 Doglus Fir trees at polling places through out the county. He says he's doing things different in his campaign becuase he wants people to know he can do things differently in Harrisburg to bring change. For more information visit www.doyleheffley.com
April 22, 2008
Two people were arrested in Pike County on drug charges related to cocaine. 28 year old Darren Fiske was arrested for selling cocaine on two separate occasions in Greentown. Detectives also charged 19 year old Nicole Moser of Hawley with aiding Fiske in the sales. During a search of Moser’s car police found drug paraphernalia and a switch blade knife. Both are being held at the Pike County Correctional Facility on several drug charges until a preliminary hearing set for April 29th.
April 22, 2008
Police report a man from East Stroudsburg was killed in a crash in Monroe County Monday night. Pocono Mountain Regional Police say 59-year old Mark Birch died when he drove his car into a tree along route 611 in Coolbaugh Township. The wreck happened between state route 423 and Midway Road around 7 at night. Police say they don't know why birch crossed the center line on the highway. He died later at Pocono Medical Center.
April 22, 2008
Police in Pike County have released the name of a person killed in a crash last week. Officers say 24-year old Jennifer Kirkland of Dingmans Ferry was killed when her car lost control, struck a tree and burst into flames. The accident happened on State Route 2001 near Webber Road late Wednesday night. Kirkland was pronounced dead at the scene.
April 22, 2008
This week Penn-DOT is taking another look at how many cars are using a busy roadway in Pike County. A contractor is manually counting cars along route six and 209 from Milford to Matamoras. The study is looking at several locations including the Delaware Valley High School, the traffic signal at the Price Chopper in Matamoras, and also at the Milford exit on Interstate 84. There will be no disruption to traffic but Penn-DOT wants drivers to be aware of the study activity. The information is being collected for the Milford to Matamoras Congested Corridor Improvement Project which can be used to suggest upgrades to better handle traffic.
April 22, 2008
State foresters say a brush fire that burned one-thousand acres on the Monroe and Pike County border is now under control. The fire started last Thursday night near the Skytop Resort in Canadensis. Although the fire was large it did not impact the resort's activities because of its remote location several miles in the woods. Firefighters used water dropped from helicopters and packed equipment back into the fire scene. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
April 22, 2008
Polls are busy in both county's but it seems as though only one party is voting. The majority of voters in both counties are registered republican, but the number at one polling place in Dingman Township shows republicans aren't making it out to vote. Over in Wayne County officials say the challenge of pulling off this election in time is finally over. After the state de-certified the electronic machines, officials were on a time schedule to figure out what they wanted to do for the Presidential Primaries. Officials report for the second time paper ballots are working just fine.
April 22, 2008
The eyes of the nation are on Pennsylvania as voters pick their presidential candidates. Early birds were out in full force this morning in Carbon County, casting their ballots as the polls opened at 7:00am. The county's Election Bureau reports a "moderate to healthy" voter turn out so far this primary election. Ken Leffler, Carbon County Election Director, says "the day hasn't been too overwhelming, which is good". Polls close at 8:00pm. As long as you're in line by 8:00, you will be allowed to vote.
April 22, 2008
It seems more people were sick with the flu this year including those who got flu shots, but why? Well according to doctors people are being exposed to a strain of virus this year's vaccination doesn't seem to cover. Every year infectious disease experts plan early by predicting wich viruses are most likely to cause the flu the following season. Since it's developed early it's not always perfect but doctors note that this year's flu vaccination does cover at least one strain. So if you got the shot you may get sick but not as sick as those who didn't.
April 21, 2008
The body of one of two fishermen who drowned in the Delaware River has been found. Another fisherman found the body of Timothy Panella over the weekend. Panella and Richard Skoland went under the water earlier this month while fishing. National Park Service officials say the men fell in after trying to free the boat's anchor from some rocks. Both men were from Morris County New Jersey. The search will continue for Skoland's body
April 21, 2008
A fire in Pike County destroys a small business center in Palmyra Township. Crews say when they arrived on scene just after one thirty this morning the building was already completely engulfed in flames and rapidly spreading. Fire crews say it took about 5 hours to put out the flames even with all the help available. Tafton Fire Chief Rich Groo says 8 companies were called. Officials say the fire started at the Lakeside Family Vision Care Center and spread to an insurance company, a real estate office and a health food store. The State Police Fire Marshall called in a canine unit from Bethlehem to help determine the cause. Luckily there were no injuries.
April 21, 2008
Monroe County election officials are ready for Tuesday's presidentail primary. The priority this year was to get more electronic voting machines to the 50 voting districts..in order to avoid the long lines in the last presidential election in 2004. The machines will be placed in Coolbaugh Township, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock Townships...places where there were long lines four years ago.
April 21, 2008
Carbon County officials are making sure everyone is able to vote tomorrow. They've spent more than $25,000 in federal grant money to make polling places handicapped accessible. That means putting up temporary ramps, placing non-skid material on the ground, installing doorbells in case someone needs help getting inside a polling place, and making reserved handicapped parking. All but three Carbon County polling places are handicapped accessible. Officials say they'll continue improvements until every place is accessible to everyone.
April 21, 2008
Carbon County Commissioners opened bids for roof repairs at the courthouse. The courthouse's slate roof is over 100 years old. Commissioners say the repairs are definitely needed. The county has state grant money to help defray the cost, but commissioners don't think it'll cover everything. Commissioners say they'll break the repairs up into several smaller jobs.
April 21, 2008
The town of Milford was buzzing all weekend that Former President Bill Clinton was coming to campaign for Hillary, and to their surprise it was true! The last President to visit Milford was Kennedy back in September 1963 over 45 years ago. After a stop at the Milford Diner, Clinton made his way through town to a home on Fourth Street to tell the anxious crowd why they should vote for his wife. Pike County wasn't the only stop Clinton made in our area, afterwards he headed south to Tobyhanna gearing up for the Presidential Primaries.
April 18, 2008
Over half the homes in Pike County have some type pf propane appliance whether its a stove or gas fireplace, and now over 75 Pike County fire fighters are taking a proactive stance on propane emergencies. The personnel received informational and hands-on traning fighting a propane fire which officials say is the most beneficial part of the class. Officials also want homeowners to know propane is nothing to mess with, and to leave it to the professionals to deal with any emergency you may encounter.
April 18, 2008
Around 10:00 AM, fire broke out once again along Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township, and quickly spread up the hillside. Fire crews were able to control the blaze in several hours. At one point, the flames came within 100 yards of several homes that sit atop the ridge. Officials are investigating the latest in a series of suspicious fires in this section of Lower Towamensing Township.
April 18, 2008
Residents in one part of Carbon County make it clear...they don't want a 128 year old covered bridge closed for good. Time has taken its toll on the Little Gap covered bridge in Lower Towamensing Township. Carbon County Commissioners ordered emergency repairs on the bridge last week. They now have to decide whether to fix the bridge or close it for good. Many residents in that area want the bridge to stay open. Commissioners say they need to make a decision by June. They all agree they'd like to restore the historical integrity of the bridge.
April 17, 2008
Four fires in less than an hour leave crews scrambling across Carbon County to battle the flames this afternoon. A warm, windy afternoon fueled the flames in Lower Towamensing Township, Franklin Township, and Jim Thorpe. Most of the brush fires were contained to a small area, thanks to quick response from volunteers. All of the blazes are currently under investigation. Wes Keller, a forest fire specialist with DCNR, says he's not sure if today's fires are connected, but it would be a pretty big coincidence if they weren't.
April 17, 2008
A fire broke out at a home along Arbor Lane in Slatington just after 4 o'clock this afternoon. Neighbors say they heard a loud bang and they believe the fire started in the garage. When crews arrived on the scene the house flames were shooting through the roof and a car in the front driveway was on fire as well. Witnesses believe no one was home when the fire started. Firefighters from Lehigh and Northampton county were batteling the blaze.
April 17, 2008
You might want to drive a little slower on back roads over the next few days, four athletes from West Africa will be running the streets of Honesdale training for the Boston Marathon. The runners are staying at the Himalayan Institute through a partnership, to train and get use to the weather conditions in the United States. The crew will leave for Boston on Saturday and will train there until the Marathon on April 21st.
April 17, 2008
The Great Pennsylvania clean-up is set for Saturday throughout the state and several local places including Weissport Borough are participating. PennDot provides local groups with safety vests, gloves and trash bags. All you have to do is lend a helping hand. Since 2004 660,000 bags of trash have been collected covering 33,000 miles of land. Come to the Weissport Borough park at 9 a.m. rain or shine to help out. If you live in Lansford you can help out at Kennedy Park at 9 a.m. as well.
April 16, 2008
Stroud Area Regional Police say a restaurant manager was accosted by a man while trying to close last night.
It happened at the Arby’s along route 611 near the Stroud Mall. Police say a man entered the store just before eleven-thirty as the manager was closing. A fight broke out. The manager punched the intruder and the intruder struck him in the head several times with a blunt object which may have been a knife. The manager was treated at Pocono Medical Center. His injuries were not life threatening. Police say the suspect was a man standing about six feet tall with a medium build -wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. Anyone with information should call Stroud Area Regional Police.
April 16, 2008
The search for two men missing on the Delaware River has been scaled back. In the past two weeks - search teams and divers have been unable to find boaters Timothy Panella and Rich Skoland. The two men have been missing since their boat capsized and they did not resurface Wednesday April 3rd near the Dingmans Ferry Boat Launch. Divers have performed more than 90 underwater searches. The park service believes extremely cold water temperatures may be keeping their bodies from resurfacing. Park rangers will continue to conduct daily boat patrols. State police helicopters will also search when their schedule permits. The Park Service is reminding anyone on or near the river to wear a personal flotation device.
April 16, 2008
Penn-DOT has started work to repair a deteriorated section of route 2001 in Pike County. Road crews began repaving a section of oh one near the intersection with Bushkill Falls Road. Frost damaged the road last winter and left one raised bump and other areas of broken pavement. Cars were forced to swerve around the deteriorating pavement on an already narrow section of road. Lehman Township Supervisors alerted Penn-DOT to the situation earlier this week. Work on that section of road is expected to be finished this week.
April 16, 2008
Flooding caused by the Delaware River could be avoided this year thanks to an agreement from New York state officials. They have agreed to lower the water levels in three upstate reservoirs. That came at the request of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and other state officials. Many believe when water was released from those reservoirs, it flooded low-lying areas such as the gap and nearby Portland. New York State has agreed to release 80-billion gallons of water. Both towns were flooded in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
April 16, 2008
Alliance Sand owner Alan Siberini has wanted to make recycling a number one priority since buying the 500-acre site three years ago. He is the proud recipient of a hefty state-funded grant to purchase glass crushing equipment. The Palmerton facility would be able to crush upwards of 500 tons of glass bottles a year into sand. Carbon County would save additional shipping and transportation costs. Instead of hauling nearly 20 tons of bottles a week to Northampton County, Carbon will soon bring the glass to Alliance. Siberini expects to have the equipment up and running in about six months...
April 16, 2008
It's a disease known to affect women but a Pike County man is now added to the list of breast cancer survivors. 71 year old Harvey Reisberg was diagnosed with the disease back in August. While performing a self examination he found a lump, and after several tests doctors confirmed it was cancer. Reisberg says he was lucky because the cancer had not spread and it was removed. Now nine months later he's focusing his attention on educating other men. Reisberg is featured on this years Blue Cross Gallery of Hope.
April 16, 2008
The 1.28 acre Palmerton field at the corner of Delaware Ave. and 7th Street is back up for bid. The asking price for the field is $1.95 million dollars, the same sale price the board set in January when it was first put up for bid. Whoever buys the property is still required to build fields and a concession stand on the remaining land.
April 16, 2008
Many people thought it would be a disaster, but a Lehigh County bridge closure is turning out to be not so bad. The borough of Slatington's General Thomas R. Morgan Bridge was shut down last week. PennDOT is demolishing the structure and building a new one. Members of the Slatington Bridge Committee say traffic is moving quite well through town, and business owners are "reasonably pleased". PennDOT plans to tweak a few problem spots in town, and add signs announcing the business district is still open.
April 16, 2008
Charmed, a 4 to 5 year old cat at the Carbon County Friends of Animals, is fighting for her life. She was declawed and abonded outside, and she weighed only three pounds when she was found. Animal experts say once a cat is declawed it can't hunt for food or defend itself. Before declawing a cat experts ask you consider other options. If you do have your cat declawed they ask you take responsibility of the cat's safety, especially if the cat gets outside.
April 16, 2008
All fall and winter sport coaching positions are listed on the schools web site as open positions. This means all current fall and winter coaches may not be back for the upcoming school year. The issue has many parents and students upset. According to a board member one athletic issue has lead to the opening of all positions to be fair.
April 15, 2008
And a traffic stop in our area nets a man wanted for a shooting in New Jersey. Pocono Mountain Regional Police say their officers stopped 33-year old George Wilsher Saturday in Coolbaugh Township. A joint investigation by detectives from East Orange New Jersey and the Pocono Mountain Regional Detective Unit revealed that Wilsher was living in the Tobyhanna area. An officer recognized Wilsher Saturday and he was taken into custody during a traffic stop. Wilsher is being held in the Monroe County Correctional Facility - awaiting an extradition hearing.
April 15, 2008
On Election Day next week voters in Mount Pocono and Coolbaugh Township will be asked if they want to approve a new library tax.
The one mill tax could last for 20-years to pay for a new six million dollar Pocono Mountain Public Library. The library says the new tax would be the most important fundraiser they have to make the building a reality. Library officials say they need the building because they're out of space. Their current building only has space for eight seats.
Any registered voter, Democrat Republican or Independent can vote on the library tax. The library estimates the average homeowner would pay between twenty and thirty dollars a year. If the tax is passed the library hopes the new building could be built in three years.
April 15, 2008
Police in California have arrested a man wanted for stealing thousands of dollars from two veterans groups in Wayne County.
Honesdale borough police say 60-year old John Visci surrendered to U-S Marshals and Police last night in Orange County California. Police had been trailing him for some time--tracking his cell phone and email. Two warrants were issued for his arrest. One for stealing approximately 29-thousand dollars from American Legion Post #254 in Honesdale and another for taking one-thousand dollars from the Wayne County Veterans Center. Visci is currently in jail in California awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania.
April 15, 2008
Months of preparation all come down to one day...the presidential primary election. Carbon County officials say all of the equipment, including voting machines, are ready to go. They've been preparing for the big day since January, and are hoping for a problem-free Election Day. With the exception of a few crowded polling places, Ken Leffler, Director of the Carbon County Election Bureau, thinks the county will fare well next Tuesday.
April 15, 2008
A local restaurant owner is stepping up to the plate to make sure the Milford Food Pantry stays stocked as lines for the goods grow longer. Officials say with increasing gas and food prices and the struggling economy more and more families are relying on the Milford Food Pantry, and food is being taken off the shelves quicker than it can be replaced. Mark Horner, owner of Hornetti's heard about the food pantry and decided to help. He placed a bin at the restaurant and if you bring in a canned good or non-perishable food item you'll get 1 dollar off any entree or large pizza. Horner is asking if any other businesses are interested to give him a call.
April 14, 2008
Winter has left a dangerous mark on part of Route 2001 in Pike County. Frost has created a large bump on oh-one near the intersection with Bushkill Falls Road. Local officials say cars have to swerve to avoid the bump on an already narrow road. That stretch of oh-one is on the drawing board to be rebuilt but it has been pushed back several times.
April 14, 2008
The community is reaching out to help a family who lost everything to a house fire in Stroud Township.
The blaze gutted the Lee home Friday night on Chipperfield drive near Eagles Court. Homeowner Cathy Lee and her two children weren't home at the time but they did lose most of their possessions. Friends are in the process of creating an account at the ESSA bank but more paperwork needs to be filed. Other fundraisers are also being organized and details will be available in the coming days.
April 14, 2008
The secret service is now involved in the investigation into counterfeit money passed at the mount Airy Casino. State police at Swiftwater say the phony 1-hundred dollar bill was used by a 45-year old man at the casino's main gate over the weekend. Employees became suspicious and determined the bill was in fact counterfeit. State Police and the secret service are now working together on the case. So far the 45-year old, whose name has not been released, has not been charged. Mount Airy officials had no comment.
April 14, 2008
Little Gap Road in Towamensing Township has been the scene of many serious, sometimes fatal accidents over the years. Those who live and work along the road are putting the blame on PennDOT. About ten homes and businesses have signs in their yards reading "PennDOT- How many more injuries and deaths? Fix this road". A PennDOT spokesperson tells TV-13 crews routinely perform maintenance on the road, including pothole patching. PennDOT also plans to install a new drainage system to keep water off the roadway.
April 14, 2008
Senator Arlen Specter hosted a town meeting this morning in the Lehigh Valley. He spoke to a room full of members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce on issues such as tax reform and economic growth. Specter criticized the Democrats plans to raise taxes if elected in November. He says a tax hike would only hurt the economy. Specter is endorsing rellow Republican Senator John McCain for President of the United States...
April 11, 2008
After years of planning - work is finally set to begin on a new visitor center near Lake Wallenpaupack. The center is planned for a site near the Palmyra Township Public Beach--overlooking the Lake and the Tafton Dike... The Hawley Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber Of Commerce says they're finally ready to begin construction. Hawley/Lake Chamber President Jim Shook hopes the building will be finished in six months. The visitor center project will cost just shy of one million dollars. The Hawley Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber will try to raise the remaining 200-thousand dollars needed over the next few months.
April 11, 2008
In a few years students at the Northampton County Community College could be taking classes at a new campus in Tannersville. N-C-C has unveiled plans for a new 80-million dollar campus off Route 715. Enrollment has increased about fifty percent since 2002. College officials say they need more space to grow. Northampton Community College has an ambitious plan to have some of the new campus open in by 2010. N-C-C also plans to keep their current campus off Old Mill Road.
April 11, 2008
Hearings about a proposed quarry expansion have been pushed back in Pike County. Lackawaxen Township had scheduled a conditional use hearing about the proposed expansion of the Holbert Quarry last night but the hearing has now been pushed back until May 15th. The quarry mines bluestone on two 5 acre sites along Masthope Plank Road. Owners have applied to expand the quarry to a total of forty acres. The next hearing will start at 6-pm may 15th at the Lackawaxen Fire Hall.
April 11, 2008
Interest in natural gas drilling in Wayne County may be even larger than first expected. Wayne county officials say landowners have filed 781 lease agreements for natural gas drilling over the past year. Most of the agreements are for properties in Northern Wayne County in Scott, Preston and Mount Pleasant Townships but interest is now shifting to Damascus Township and other areas in southern Wayne. Officials say the leases range from twenty five dollars an acre to as high as two thousand dollars. Penn state extension will hold a seminar about natural gas leasing Thursday, April 24th at the County’s Park Street Complex. The meeting is geared towards landowners and starts at seven-pm.
April 11, 2008
One week later, divers are still searching the waters of the Delaware River for two fishermen missing after their boat capsized in Pike County. Divers have been able to search underwater since Tuesday but so far have not been able to find Timothy Panella and Rich Skoland. Last Wednesday the two fell into the river and didn't return to the surface after the anchor on their fishing boat got caught on some rocks near the Dingmans Ferry Boat Launch. Strong currents and murky water conditions have hampered the search. Search dogs assisted today. The National Park Service says they plan to continue the search through the weekend.
April 11, 2008
Pocono Mountain Regional Police returned to Hypsie Gap road in Tunkhannock Township to search for clues in Lee VanLuvender's homicide. They were looking for any evidence to help them solve the 22-year old father's killing. Van Luvender was shot as he tried to hunt on some state gamelands back in December. So far police have no suspects.
April 11, 2008
K-9 Narcotics officer Todd Leslie, who had been on suspension with out pay for the past two weeks, has been fired from his position with the Jim Thorpe Police Department. The decision came in the form of a 5-2 vote in favor of terminating Leslie during Thursday's borough council meeting. Leslie was not present during the public meeting. Councilman Jeremy Melber said discrepencies were found on his time card the past several months, the resason for the suspension and termination...
April 11, 2008
Pike County's winter was a little out of the ordinary. Instead of having a few big snow storms they experienced 84 smaller snow events, forcing Penn Dot to spend a million more dollars than their budget allowed. Officials say it was worth it and it was the best winter they've ever had. They say you can't put a price tag on safety. But that million dollars had to come from somewhere. Officials say it won't affect the spring road projects but when their fiscal year is up in July they'll have to re-work their budget for the rest of summer and fall.
April 10, 2008
Work has wrapped up on part of route 209 in Pike County. The road was closed to traffic while emergency repairs were made to stabilize a 200 foot section of the Bushkill Creek bank. Three major storms in two years had seriously eroded the stream bank and officials believed severe undermining of Route 209 could have occurred if the stream bank was not repaired. The project began on March 25th.
April 10, 2008
Police are investigating another copper theft, this time at a school under construction in East Stroudsburg. State police say someone broke into two construction trailers at the east Stroudsburg South Elementary School. Officers say a large amount of copper fittings were taken sometime Monday Night. No word on the value of the stolen materials. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at swift water.
April 10, 2008
A Monroe County man wanted by police now faces more charges for assaulting a trooper. State police say they found 22-year old Enrique Rivera hiding in the attic of his home last night on Green Mountain Road in Smithfield Township. Officers say when they tried to arrest Rivera, he kicked a trooper - knocking him backwards onto a nail. The trooper had to be treated at a hospital. Rivera now faces charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.
April 10, 2008
A 24 year old Pike County man was sentenced for causing the death of his best friend. Back in February of 2006 Daniel Gallagher was driving Ronnie Demarco and Megan Harrington on route 434 when Gallagher lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Demarco was pronounced dead at the scene and Gallagher plead guilty for causing his death. Gallagher was sentenced to 14 months to five years in the Pike County Correctional Facility.
April 10, 2008
Crime rates keep going up, but Lehigh County officials aren't sitting back and watching criminals take over their streets. Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and District Attorney Jim Martin proposed a four-pronged, $4million anti-crime package. It includes computer software that will link all 17 county police departments, a regional crime data center, and more police officers out on the streets. Last night, Lehigh County Commissioners approved most of the plan, but held off on adding more police officers to local departments.
April 9, 2008
The second cleanup is complete at a former Penn-DOT site in Shohola.
Officials with the environmental protection agency say in the last week they dug up more scrap metal, tires, and half a drum of tar. They took several samples of the soil but didn't see anything they think will come up as hazardous. The results of those tests will be known in May. Officials will restore the site back to the way they found it and will keep in contact with both the game commission and Penn-DOT until the test results are in.
April 9, 2008
A group of employees at the Tobyhanna Army Depot have taken on a big job. They make our military safer after the sun goes down. A group of almost almost forty technicians repairs and maintains all of the Army's night vision equipment. Most of the equipment the technicians work on is used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 9, 2008
A Wayne County woman who plotted to kill her husband with her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend was sentenced today in court. Back in January, 38 year old Patricia Luyster plead guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit murder. Now she will spend 15-34 years in prison for her involvement in 41 year old Ronald Luysters death. The other two involved Clarissa Luyster and Cody Steich are scheduled to be sentenced in May.
April 9, 2008
A Kidder Township businessman was denied access to construct a windmill on his property near Hickory Run State Park Tuesday Night by the zoning board. David Pfeil, owner of The Inn at Hickory Run, says the windmill would supply enough power to cover nearly 2/3rds of his electricty bill. Pfeil plans to appeal the decision to the Kidder Township Supervisors.
April 9, 2008
The faces of hope and survival are on display at Blue Mountain Health System. Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania brings the "Gallery of Hope" to the Gnaden Huetten campus. The picture collection represents breast cancer survivors from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania. Health officials hope it sends the message that everyone should get checked for breast cancer. The gallery is on display at Gnaden Huetten until Friday. It moves to the BMHS Palmerton campus next week.
April 8, 2008
Police in our area are investigating more copper thefts - this time in Pike County. One happened at a home under construction, The other at a builder's headquarters. State Police say copper wires and pipes worth several hundred dollars were taken from Vanetta Builders in Delaware Township. Copper worth thousands of dollars was also stolen from a home construction site on the Owego turnpike in Dingman Township. Both thefts happened last weekend. High prices for copper have led to an increasing number of copper thefts across our area.
April 8, 2008
A controlled burn quickly got out of control shortly after 4:00PM Tuesday. It happened in the backyard of a home near the Lehigh River in East Penn Township. The blaze scorched at least a 1/2 acre of woods behind the home. Officials credit a quick response by firefighters for the blaze not spreading. Officials are still investigating the fire...
April 8, 2008
PennDot has scrapped the original plans for the Marshalls Creek bypass. It wants to come up with a smaller, more affordable plan. The cost for the 3.5 mile highway has gone overbudge by about 1-hundred and 30 million dollars. The new plan may call for a 2-lane road instead of 4. High petroleum and construction costs are blamed for the change in plans.
April 8, 2008
The Dimmick Inn has changed hands for the first time in two decades, but the new owners are no strangers to Milford. The Jorgenson brothers also own a popular deli in town, but more than just the ownership has changed. After 8 weeks of renovations it now features a brand new kitchen and menu, new bars, lighting, walls and the dining rooms second as an art gallery. The Jogensons say the Dimmick now reflects what Milford offers best: fine dining, art, and live music.
April 8, 2008
A youngster from New Tripoli is fighting for his life, and you can help in the battle. 3 year old Wyatt Newhard has been diagnosed with a rare cancer called neuroblastoma. He's undergoing chemo and bone marrow transplants at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, and his medical costs keep piling up. Family and friends are hosting a "Bowling for Wyatt" event this Sunday, April 13 at 2:00pm at Mountainville Bowling in Allentown. It's $15 per person, and all money goes to Wyatt's medical expenses. If you can't make it to the event, but would still like to help the Newhard family, you can donate to the Wyatt Newhard Cancer Fund at:
New Tripoli Bank
7747 Claussville Rd.
Orefield, PA 18069
Attn: Minnie
April 8, 2008
The bridge that splits a Lehigh County town in half is officially closed. The General Thomas R. Morgan Bridge is officially shut down this morning in the borough of Slatington. A major bridge replacement project now begins, and new traffic patterns go into place. The bridge is closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic until at least December.
April 7, 2008
The recovery operation for the bodies of two missing fishermen continues on the Delaware River in Pike County.
Tv-13 has learned the men are identified as 57-year old Timothy Panella and 62-year old Richard Skoland, both of Morris County New Jersey. Both fell into the river Thursday after the anchor on their boat got stuck on some rocks. Another man was able to swim to shore. A spokesperson for the national park service says crews will decide either late tonight or tomorrow how much longer they will continue the operation. So far divers have not gone into the water because of the river's murky condition. Scent dogs have hit on certain areas...but no recovery has been made.
April 7, 2008
With a little over two weeks left until the Pennsylvania primary, candidates target a very specific audience. If you're between the ages of 18 and 24, both Democratic presidential candidates are fighting for your vote more than any other age group. From MySpace debates, to stops at local colleges and universities, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are vying for young support. TV-13 spoke to students at Lehigh Carbon Community College. They all have different political views, but agree on one thing...young people need to vote.
April 7, 2008
It's been a rocky road to say the least but officials are finally ready to start construction on Sterling Business Park in Wayne County. On April 14th bidding will start on phase one. This includes a waste water treatment plant, utility lines, and road development which will open 73 acres of land for prospective businesses. But the work isn't near done, officials then have to start marketing the land, but they are confident the park has a lot to offer. Officials would like to have phase one complete in about a year so they can concentrate on filling the park which will bring up to 15 hundred jobs to the county.
April 4, 2008
A recovery operation has resumed on the Delaware Rive in Pike County for two New Jersey fishermen presumed drowned. The men, a 56 year old and a 62 year old from Morris County, were fishing with a third man when their anchor got stuck on rocks and the boat tipped over. The third man swam to shore. Rescue crews with the National Park service and New Jersey State Police are assisting.
April 4, 2008
Pike County officials get first hand reports today on problems affecting the county, and the problem affecting everyone is high gas prices. Officials with the Pike County Area Agency on Aging say high fuel costs have affected their home delivered meal program. The agency only delivers to certian places once a week due to the climbing gas prices. Officials are now working together to get more money from the state so they can continue all of their services.
April 3, 2008
Police stopped five men on interstate 80 in East Stroudsburg shortly after 10 am on Thursday. Police believed the men were involved in a home invasion in Chestnuthill Township. The men were detained and searched for close to an hour, but were set free after police realized they had the wrong guys.
April 3, 2008
Detours on route 209 in Bushkill aren't going away for at least another week. The National Park Service says bad weather has slowed a project to stabilize a bank of the Bushkill Creek. The work is now being extended at least through next Thursday April tenth. Detours are planned on weekdays and message boards have been placed to warn drivers of the closures. Three major storms in two years have seriously eroded the creek's banks along 209. The Park Service says the work is necessary to prevent the undermining and eventual washout of the roadway.
April 3, 2008
Police have identified a man who caused a five hour stand-off in the Pocono Ranchlands development in Bushkill yesterday. Officers say 49-year old David Allen Cullen began acting in a threatening manner when officers were questioning him about an investigation yesterday morning. Police say Cullen had a gun and said he planned to hurt himself. Cullen was eventually persuaded to surrender and was taken into custody without incident shortly before noon. Police say he is receiving a mental health evaluation at a medical facility.
April 3, 2008
Police in Pike County are searching for a man who held up a subway in Greentown last night. A man - wearing a bandana and carrying a shotgun -- walked into the subway restaurant on route 507 just before ten last night. The robber demanded money and got way with the cash register drawer and all of its’ contents. The robber's description is very close to that of a man who robbed a gas station in Wayne County Sunday only a mile away from the subway. Police say both suspects were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts - blue jeans and carrying a short barreled shot gun. Last night the robber fled on foot and was last seen on Simons road headed towards Old School House Road. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at blooming grove.
April 3, 2008
Victims can now track down convicted Carbon County prisoners faster than ever before. Carbon County has become the latest in a statewide effort to implement the high-speed notification system known as PA SAVIN. A victim can register either online or by phone to be notified when a prisoner's location status changes. Carbon now joins 19 other counties across the state using the SAVIN program. Officials say the entire state should be on the SAVIN system by this October...
April 3, 2008
The Stroudsburg School District is considering implementing a dress code in schools. Khaki pants and shirts that are black and burgandy are being considered. The district feels uniform dress codes will allow for a safer school. Administrators will form a committee with students and faculty to discuss the proposal. Most students disagree with it.
April 3, 2008
A case of the little guy versus the big corporation. The Carbon County Retirement Board announces it plans to file suit against a major airline. Southwest Airlines stocks took a major hit last month after allegations of improper safety inspections on their planes. Carbon County owns 9000 shares of Southwest, which it purchased for $135,000. The shares are now only worth $110,000. But commissioners say the lawsuit isn't just about the money. They want Southwest Airlines to take responsibility for passenger safety. A Philadelphia law firm handling the case says other counties are also considering similar lawsuits.
April 3, 2008
April showers may bring more than flowers to some Pike County residents. The ground is saturated, the streams are up, and the reservoirs are full. In fact their 1 billion gallons over their capacity. Now Governor Ed Rendell is asking for action on the reservoirs to help protect downstream communities including Westfall Township. Officials say legislators worked to get the flexible flow plan implemented but its not working. They would like to see the reservoirs down to 85% so as the April showers rain down they will be back to full capacity by May.
April 2, 2008
Work on the new Wayne County Prison is proceeding on schedule and almost finished. The new facility at the Mid-Wayne Industrial Park in Texas Township is about 90-to-95-percent complete. Workers are now just trying to finish a few last minute projects. One of the most visible symbols that work is almost done is the prison's new sign that's now visible along route six. The target date for completion is this month.
April 2, 2008
A school bus picking up students in the Wallenpaupack School District was rear ended this morning but no students were injured. It happened on route 590 in Wayne County. Police say the driver was blinded by glare from the sun and drove into the back of the bus. The bus was stopped and there were six students on board. The school district says all were checked out by emergency personnel on scene and then checked again by the school nurse at school. The driver of the car was taken to a hospital but her injuries were not believed to life threatening.
April 2, 2008
A developer has plans to put a 76-thousand square foot supermarket along with a restaurant and retail shops on the site of the old Crossroads Truck Stop along Route 6-11 in Hamilton Township. The truck stop shut down a few months ago and nearby business owners are feeling the pinch. They say business has suffered since truck traffic has decreased at the stop.
April 2, 2008
The Jim Thorpe Police Department is investigating a number of recent burglaries. They took place in the past week in the vicinity of 1200 Center Street and 100 School Street. Police are looking for a possible suspect described as a male in his mid 20's, wearing a black hoodie and tan cargo pants. The break-ins happened during daylight hours. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jim Thorpe Police Department at (570)325-4995...
April 2, 2008
Road closure signs and barricades have been popping up all over the National Park Service over the last several weeks. It all started with the closure of the south entrance into the Park on route 209, then Brodhead Road was closed due to a sinkhole, and now Johnny Bee Road and Dingman Falls. The bank along side Johnny Bee Road has been disappearing for the last several years and with only three feet left between the bank and the road officials knew something had to be done. Officials hope all the projects are wrapped up by the time the busy tourist season rolls around.
April 2, 2008
A big makeover is coming to another local Turnpike plaza. The Hickory Run rest stop will be closed down February 2009. The Pennyslvania Turnpike Commission will completely demolish the stop and build an even bigger travel plaza. A Turnpike spokesperson says it'll include state-of-the-art bathroom facilities, a food court style eatery, and a new gas station. The Allentown travel plaza is undergoing similar renovations right now. It's set to reopen May 22 and will handle the extra traffic when Hickory Run is closed.
April 1, 2008
Vandalism discovered this morning at a water bottling facility in Wayne County is no April fools joke. State Police in Honesdale say the air was let out of the tires on twenty tractor trailers at Fox Ledge Water in Mount Pleasant Township. Officers say the vandals cut the valve stems of sixty tires. A contractor was busy fixing the tires today. Fox ledge managers say while the vandalism is an inconvenience it shouldn't affect their operations. Anyone with information about that vandalism should contact State Police in Honesdale.
April 1, 2008
For the first time Barack Obama held an open campaign stop in what some residents are calling Clinton territory. Obama spoke on how things need to change in our country including the stuggling economy, the housing crisis, gas prices, healthcare, job opportunities, better education and the need to bring our troops home from Iraq. Obama will continue his campaign in Pennsylvania with stops in Philadelphia and Wallingford later this week.
April 1, 2008
The Pennsylvania State Board of Education wants to increase graduation requirements to schools across the state. Their plan is to require a student to pass the PSSA test, or a new competency exam, before they can receive their diploma. However, local school officials are against making the test a graduation requirement. The next meeting of the State Board is in May..
April 1, 2008
For the first time ever, one in 100 Americans is behind bars. That sobering statistic is costly for government. Officials in Carbon County are concerned about how much money they must spend on prisoners. Commissioner Chairman Bill O'Gurek says the county spends $3.6 million annually to run the prison. Of that, $2.4 million pays for staff salaries and benefits. Another $280,000 goes to medical costs. Those costs just keep increasing every year. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is looking at ways to keep costs down.
March 31, 2008
State Police are searching for two masked men who held-up a gas station in Monroe County Sunday Night. Both men entered the B-P gas station on business route 209 in Sciota after ten pm. Each man pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded cash. The suspects left with about 100-dollars cash. They ran away on foot but may have been picked up. A newer model blue dodge charger left the station just as the suspects were fleeing. Police aren't sure if it was involved in the crime. The suspects are described as being in their 20's with brown hair. They were around six feet tall.
March 31, 2008
Police in Wayne County are looking for an armed robber. The man held up the Joe's Quick Mart on Route 191 in Newfoundland Friday night. The robber entered the store with a bandana over his face. He showed the clerk a short pump style shotgun and got away with some cash. Police say he was a white male with a thin build in his 20's or early 30's. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt - blue jeans and his bandana was green with cream colored markings. No one was hurt in that robbery.
March 31, 2008
A new indoor shooting range is set to open in Stroudsburg on April 7th, and it won't just serve as another place to fire your weapon. Several local law enforcement agencies plan to useThe Pocono Pistol Club as a training facility in the near future.
March 31, 2008
Juicycampus.com is drawing the attention of campus officials at East Stroudsburg University. The site allows users to post anything about others...inicluding sex lives, rumors and gossip. The university is in touch with PSEAA officials to see if they could regulate the site. ESU has not been written about. Students say they are really not aware of the site.
March 31, 2008
A fund has been set up for a Wayne County family who is recovering from a fatal fire. Last Friday a fire broke out in the Erickson's home off of Perkins Pond Road in Berlin Township. Along with losing all of their possessions the family is also grieving the loss of their youngest son, 11 year old Adam Erickson died in the blaze. Fire officials say they believe the fire started when a lamp was knocked over in one of the bedrooms. If you want to help the Erickson family a fund has been set up at Wayne Bank in Honesdale.
March 31, 2008
Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency say a pesticide used to wage war could be buried in the ground in Pike County. A haz-mat crew is suited up and the EPA is overseeing the second group of digs at a former Pen Dot site in Shohola. Officials say witnesses have stepped forward saying certain spots at the stock pile weren't dug deep enough or missed all together the first time around. Officials with Pen Dot say the EPA is responding to a complaint from an individual and they spent several months along with the Game Commission using scientific methods to remove everything they knew existed.
March 31, 2008
They're located at opposite ends of the country, but for one day the state of Wyoming has something in common with Jim Thorpe. More than 40 people from Wyoming's Main Street program left their tour bus and pounded pavement as they looped through Jim Thorpe's historic district. They came to learn more about the town's successful revitalization. Local tourism officials say they're flattered people traveled thousands of miles to recognize their hard work.
March 28, 2008
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton makes a local stop for her mom's presidential campaign. Chelsea conducted an informal question and answer session about Senator Hillary Clinton's stance on key issues. The event was open to Lehigh Valley Hospital employees only. Many questions revolved around health care, but Chelsea also took some time to joke around with the crowd. When one audience member asked if she thinks her mom would make a better President than her dad, Chelsea laughed and said, "yes I do think she'll be a better President". Chelsea's in the area one week after her father, former President Bill Clinton, stopped in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos to drum up support for Hillary's campaign.
March 28, 2008
An organization in Pike County is being recognized with a Govenors Award for Environmental Excellence. Heron's Eye Communications was one of nine businesses chosen out of thirty five to represent leadership on Environmental Business. Heron's Eye was awarded for their documentary entitled "Nature's Keepers" which highlights Pike County's Conservation Heritage and how it continues today. Right now Nature's Keepers is in distribution and officials look forward to it airing all over the area throughout the next several months.
March 28, 2008
Officials have ruled the fatal fire in Berlin Township near Beach Lake as an accident. When crews arrived on scene just after 2 am this morning they learned three people were home when the fire started, but only the father and older son were accounted for.
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