Local News

A marine, reportedly a 2007 graduate of Panther Valley High School, is facing murder charges in California for the death of an 18-month old girl.

Joshua Kruzik, 21, a corporal stationed at New River Air Station in Jacksonville, N.C.,is being held aboard New River Air Station awaiting extradition to California on counts of willful injury to a child resulting in death and murder in the blunt force death of Audrey Allen, of Twentynine Palms, Calif., according to a press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Christmas trees at The Summit at Blue Mountain Health Systems, Lehighton, recently were decorated by various groups of volunteers.

The tree at the entrance was decorated by a group from First Presbyterian Church, Third Street, Lehighton, and the tree in the center's dining room was decorated by a group of Lehighton Girls Scouts Ambassador Troop 3583, led by Geri Haas. The Girl Scouts also decorated the dining room and hallway for Christmas.

The Summit Hill Lions also helped in the evening's festivities by decorating a tree with the help of a few residents.

Amie Barclay, who was terminated as a police officer in Mahoning Township after many years of serving there, will have a hearing on her firing.

The special public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the township building.

The hearing is at the request of Barclay.

The supervisors said the hearing is based on the decision of the board of supervisors to terminate Barclay.

Barclay believes the termination was without cause. She filed a grievance and requested the hearing.

The Lehighton Fire Department could be getting expanded facilities in the very near future.

Yesterday afternoon, Speaker of the House of Representatives Keith McCall gave a major boost to the plans, offering the fire department a $1.5 million redevelopment assessment grant toward the estimated $3.5 million project.

Then last night, Lehighton Borough Council went on record as unanimously supporting the project by agreeing to match the grant money and hiring an architectural firm to do preliminary work.