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Local News

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Thomas Senavitis, 46, of Kunkletown leaves Monroe County Courthouse following the first day of testimony of trial involving the head-on accident Senavitis had with state Sen. James Rhoades on Oct. 17, 2008, which resulted in the death of the senator.

Sen. James Rhoades never had a chance to tell his wife goodbye.

His last words to her were, "We're just about there. Five minutes or so."

It was a response to a question that his wife, Mary Edith, asked him en route to Pleasant Valley High School where he was to be honored during halftime at a football game. They were on Route 209 near the village of Gilbert when Mary Edith asked him how far away the school was.

Then, abruptly, a head-on crash ensued that claimed the life of Rhoades and critically injured his wife.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Students raise more than $2,900 for Dream Come True

Gail Maholick/TIMES NEWS Lehighton Area Middle School students raised $2,930.33 for Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter. Winners were, from left, Ellza Asman, 10 mega pixel camera; and gift cards, Zach Christoff, McKenzie Smith, Cory Young, Angelica Kerscmar, Devin Frantz and Jackie Jordan.

A recent fundraiser to raise funds for Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter has a deeper meaning to Lehighton Area Middle School students since one of their own was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

Organizing the collection of change in Zimmie's Iced Tea containers for the local wish granting organization were members of the school's newly formed Humanitarian Club. Through the event, the club collected $2,930.33 for Dream Come True.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Four-unit condominium heavily damaged by fire

A four-unit condominium was heavily damaged by fire early Wednesday morning.

The fire occurred along Mosey Wood Road in Lake Harmony, Kidder Township, near the Galleria at Split Rock Resort.

According to fire officials all the vacation homes were unoccupied. The fire started in the first unit and spread through a crawlspace to the three others. The first unit partially collapsed and was completely destroyed. The other three units sustained substantial fire, water and smoke damage, officials said.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Turnpike bridge brings good jobs to area

GAIL MAHOLICK/TIMES NEWS Jeff Wendel, project manager for the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridges over the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek at Parryville, updated members of the Lehighton Area Council of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce. From left are Wendel, Mimi Doyle, public involvement specialist; Renee Biechy, LACC treasurer and branch manager of the Jim Thorpe National Bank in Lehighton; and William A. Billowich, president of the LAC; and shareholder of Buckno, Lisicky and Company CPAs.

With 45 local employees involved in building bridges over the Lehigh River and Lehigh Canal, the Pennsylvania Turnpike project is having a favorable economic impact on the local area.

Jeff Wendel, project manager of Urban Engineers, Inc., said that most of the staff on this project are mostly local people, many from the Lehighton area, working for a local company and are hopefully spending money and using services in the local area.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Deputy Phil teaches St. Joseph's students about safety

AMY ZUBEK/TIMES NEWS The Carbon County Sheriff's Department, who is one of the sponsors of the Deputy Phil program, met with Icy the Penguin and "Magic Dave" Carr, both second from left, before the program to discuss what safety issues students need to know. With Icy and Carr are, from left, Sheriff Dwight Nothstein, Lt. Dave Midas, and Lt. Karen Flexer.

Students at St. Joseph's Regional Academy in Jim Thorpe learned about the importance of being safe.

During the Deputy Phil program on Monday afternoon, kindergarten through fourth grade students were treated to a puppet and magic show that taught them about bike, traffic, and bus safety; as well as not talking to strangers. The event was sponsored by the Carbon County Sheriff's Department and local businesses and organizations.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Lansford hires secretary

CHRIS PARKER/TIMES NEWS New Lansford Borough secretary-treasurer Renee Slakoper.

Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday hired a borough businesswoman known for her community improvement activities as the town's new secretary-treasurer.

Renee Slakoper started her new job this morning. She'll be earning $13.50 an hour plus benefits for the first 90 days; $14 an hour for the next 90 days, after which her pay goes to $15 an hour.

Slakoper replaces Nicole Tessitore, who resigned Feb. 17 to take a similar position with Lehighton Borough.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Teacher contract rejected again

STACEY SOLT/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Students Mason and Alexis Barndt hold signs in support of their teachers in the Lehighton Area School District. Their signs read "Plasma TV: $1,700. Admin. furniture: $17,000. Our teachers: Priceless" and "Our teachers deserve a contract." The teachers' contract was rejected by the school board on Wednesday night. Negotiations with the Lehighton Area Educational Association will continue.

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.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Palmerton Mock Trial Team finishes second among 24

Special to the TIMES NEWS Members of the Palmerton Area High School Mock Trial team include (front row, l-r) Jillian Renninger, Michelle Rickert, Danielle Eastgate, Charles Sterling, Laurel Seemiller, and (back row, l-r) Audrey Larvey, adviser, Jordan Ruzicka, Karl Pielmeier, Kevin Seemiller, Frank "Jay" Hall, Samantha K. Smith.

They came within an eyelash of victory.

In what proved to be a real nail-biter, the Palmerton Area High School Mock Trial Team lost this year's District 5 final by a mere one point to Northampton High School.

The team, which entered the competition as the defending District 5 champion, had turned away prior challenges from Pen Argyl, Pottsville Nativity BVM, Antietam and Liberty high schools.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Safe and drug-free grant discontinued

TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS Northern Lehigh School Board directors Mathias Green and Lauren Ganser were recognized on Monday by the Pennsylvania School Board Association for their years of service. Green has been a board member for 32 years, while Ganser has served for eight years.

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.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

New traffic pattern

ANDREW LEIBENGUTH/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS

People familiar with Hometown were surprised this week when they found themselves driving south on SR309 towards the main intersection (SR309 and SR54) in Hometown. The new street markings force all SR309 southbound drivers to mergeto the right lane when approaching the intersection.

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