January 2010

Construction on a $6.5 million project to upgrade Palmerton's aged wastewater treatment plant could get underway by late summer.

That was the information borough Manager Rodger Danielson shared with Borough Council on Thursday after he said the plans for the new treatment plant are nearly complete.

Danielson said a copy of the plan must be forwarded to the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the Delaware River Basin Commission.

From that point, Danielson said DEP has 90 days to review the plan, which would bring the time frame to around May.

Harleysville National Corporation, the parent company of East Penn Bank and Harleysville National Bank, had a net loss of $219.5 million during 2009.

The losses came during the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Harleysville showed net income of $2.8 million.

Most of the loss was attributed to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $214.5 million in the second quarter, according to a financial report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Deeds recorded

Franklin Township

Joseph J. Demjanick Sr. to Edward Rodenbach, Towanda R.5, property at 27 Sunset Drive, $80,000.

Jim Thorpe

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Tadeusz Kulesza, Whitehall, property at 158 W. Broadway, $25,000.

Anne E. Gremling to Patrick A. Gremling, 2900 Forest St., Lehighton, property at 77 Broadway, $1.

Jason Kuhn to James F. Kalinowsky, Gilbertsville, property on North Street, $75,500.

Eugene E. Stermer to Larry A. Ahner, 1798 Long Run Road, Jim Thorpe, property at 418 South St., $64,500.

A psychologist has been charged with sexually assaulting a female patient in his Mahoning Township office.

Michael T. Degilio, 41, of Dogwood Drive, Bear Creek Lake Estates, Penn Forest Township, was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and indecent exposure.

He was arraigned yesterday before District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe. Lewis set bail at $100,000 unsecured.

The alleged victim is a 39 year old Lehighton woman.

BRC Community Cupboard has announced its eighth annual food drive.

With support from its customers and employees, Blue Ridge Cable can help make someone's day a little brighter through its Community Cupboard 2010 initiative.

Last year BRC collected 2,665 pounds of food. From Feb. 15 through March 15, it will be collecting nonperishable food to benefit the Salvation Army and local food banks.

Items can be dropped off at all BRC offices, Palmerton Telephone, Penn's Peak, Roadies, and Pencor Superstore locations.

Six guns were reported stolen from a Monroe County residence.

State police at Lehighton said a home at 1745 Mountain Rd., in Ross Township, was entered sometime between Dec. 23, 2009, and Jan. 23. Taken were the following guns: SIG-Saurer-Equinox, 45-caliber automatic; SIG-Sauer-Elite, 40-caliber automatic; Kimber ProCarry, 45-caliber automatic; Kimber TLE RL2, 45-caliber automatic; Jennings MDL-9, 9mm; and a Jennings 22-caliber. Total value of the missing guns was set at $4,200.

The listed victims are Sean McGuire, 39, of Hellertown, and John Pugh, 70, of Saylorsburg.

Christopher Czapla, principal of the Tamaqua Area Middle School, has released the names of students attaining honor roll status for the second marking period of the 2009-2010 school year. To be eligible for Highest Honors, students must maintain a cumulative average of 95 or higher, with no grade lower than a 93. For High Honors, students must earn grades of 90 or higher, with no grade lower than 86. An average of 86 or above, with no grade lower than 78 is required for honors status.

A Schuylkill County driver is facing a charge of driving under the influence (DUI).

State police at Frackville said Michael Shane Matrishion, 33, of McAdoo, was stopped for traffic violations about 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, along Interstate 81 southbound in Kline Township.

Matrishion was found to be under the influence was taken to the barracks for a breath test, which he refused, troopers said. He will be charged with DUI and other offenses, troopers added.

There was nothing unusual about Wednesday night's State of the Union Address.

Divorce decrees

The following divorce decrees were signed by the county court.

Alan Berndt, Box 647, Whitehall, from Amanda K. Berndt, 12 Audry Lane, Jim Thorpe.

Margaret B. Stiely, 3376 Jackson Rd., Bethlehem, from James R. Stiely, 825 E. Patterson St., Lansford.

Tammy L. Bowman, 417 White St., Weissport, from Wesley H. Bowman III, same address.

Nicole S. Shuck, 454 N. First St., Lehighton, from Charles J. Shuck Jr., 146 Mauch Chunk St., Lehighton.