Local News

A project to replace its junior high/senior high fire panel system could cost Palmerton nearly $100,000.

The district would pay for the project from its capital projects fund, it was revealed at the school board's Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting on Thursday.

But, before it can do that, it must first adopt a resolution to pay for the project from out of the fund, Superintendent Carol Boyce said.

Boyce told the committee it has $108,800 in its capital projects fund, compared to just $26,500 in its capital reserve fund.

The Palmerton Area High School music department is presenting a recital Friday evening, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the school's library on Fireline Road in Lower Towamensing Township. Admission is free.

Students performing will include seniors Ryan Beaulieu, Danielle Norris, and Kimberly Varano, junior William Heinick, and sophomore Lydia Anthony.

Beaulieu and Varano will perform on acoustic guitar, Norris and Anthony on flute, and Heinick on trombone.

Mahoning Township Chief of Police Ken Barnes said traffic safety issues in the township "are paramount" and will be enforced in the new year.

He has compiled a list of priorities for enforcement action by his officers.

Among them is enforcement of red light violations at the Normal Square light effective Jan. 16.

Another area of concern is the Mansion House Hill, which is the Route 209 connection of the township with Jim Thorpe borough.

Both locations have been the scene of serious - and even fatal - accidents.

The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board took action Monday evening at its monthly meeting to accept on behalf of IU units in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Colonial Intermediate and its own unit, a grant for 2009-10 in amount of $217,762 for professional development for the non-public/private schools in those Intermediate units.

As directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, an amount of $100,000 is disbursed to Berks County IU for support of pre-kindergarten, partnership and professional develpment. The Schuylkill Unit is the administrator for this federal grant.