Local News

For the second time this school year, the Lehighton Area School District School Board has voted to reject a contract for Lehighton teachers. Directors based their decision on the recommendations of a fact finder.

But while the board rejected the contract, there may be hope in sight for frustrated educators in the district who have been working without a contract for more than six months. Board solicitor William Schwab offered an explanation for the rejection, noting that there were some questions about the fact finder's report.

A grant that provided services to students in the Northern Lehigh School District has been eliminated.

Karen Nicholas, assistant to the superintendent, told the school board on Monday that the Safe and Drug-Free Schools grant has been discontinued.

Nicholas said the $6,000 grant serviced about 50 students, 25 each at the high school and middle school.

"It's a program that's very supportive to our students," Nicholas said.

She said it's been suggested to the district that it utilize its Accountability Block Grant funds to recoup the money it won't get.

A Jim Thorpe man who police say was shot in the legs by his estranged wife's boyfriend on March 1 testified from his wheelchair Wednesday that there was so much blood pouring from the wound in his thigh that "In my head, it was a question of whether I was going to make it or not."

After listening to Jace J. Gill's testimony and that of the arresting officer, District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe sent aggravated assault and related charges against Thomas Henry Smith, 52, of 4507 Three Mile Lane, Walnutport, to Carbon County Court.