Both good news and bad news were delivered at the Walnutport Canal Association's meeting Wednesday.

As for bad news, President Doug Boehrer said two cog wheels, over 200 years old and weighing in excess of 700 pounds, were discovered missing from the canal area the weekend after the association's annual canal festival Oct. 19.Boehrer said the cogs, which at one time had operated the falgate at Lock 23, were recovered last November when the spillway there was rebuilt.It is suspected the historic cast-iron wheels may have been stolen to cash them in as scrap metal.Boehrer said the cogs wheels had been behind the WCA Heritage Center and suggested more security measures be added in that area for the future.In regard to good news, Festival Committee Chairman Greg Soltis said the association's 34th annual festival itself went well and that, despite initial snow flurries, quite a large crowd attended. He reported that the only thing yet unfinished was the collection of funds from the groups involved but that he will try contacting them.Next on the agenda was the nomination of the association's 2015 officers.Board of Trustees member Jim Evans suggested all 2014 Walnutport Canal Association officers remain in their current offices, including President Doug Boehrer, Vice President/historian Marilyn Kaul, treasurer Tom Sidor and secretary Doneta Merkle, and the motion passed.Also, the association decided to form its first-ever WCA audit committee.Board of Trustee Erv Prutzman said the association's bylaws, which were just adopted, "require an annual audit of all WCA financial records by the audit committee within two months of the closing of each fiscal year. Additionally, every three years, the board of trustees requires an audit of individuals not affiliated with the WCA.""So this is already in our bylaws," Prutzman said, noting that it should be conveyed to Sidor, who was absent Wednesday, that this is a requirement and in no way reflects anything suspected currently wrong with thebooks.Appointments to the newly formed audit committee include Prutzman, member Jeanne Boehrer and Scott Barhight, a CPA in no way connected to the WCA.They also chose 2015 as the year to begin the auditing process and decided to schedule the committee's first meeting.Members also discussed the possibility of extending the rental periods of the WCA pavilion if a suitable heat source can be found and also progress regarding the WCA Heritage Center becoming open to the public.Lastly, Lehigh Township Rails to Trails President Nancy Thatcher announced her organization will begin holding meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Northern Lehigh Bible Fellowship Church, the former Terrace Restaurant building in Walnutport.She said volunteers are needed and invited both WCA members and the general public to attend.