Local News

The entire Times News area seemed to have "lucked out" in this past weekend's snow storm. Although there was a possibility of a heavy snow fall much of the area only received several inches. This area of West Penn Township overlooking the village of Mantzville is quite picturesque with the snow. Today is the first day of Winter and with cold weather in the forecast for the rest of the week, the area should have a White Christmas.

A fast moving fire that started from Christmas tree lights damaged nine homes on a thin one-way street in Mahanoy City Saturday morning.

Two homes on East Pine Street were destroyed, while seven other surrounding or adjacent homes were damaged by smoke, heat, or water.

A mother and her two children living at 616 East Pine Street, where the fire started, were taken to different hospitals after they were quickly rescued by firefighters. Initial firefighters had to catch the terrified children in their arms as they jumped off the high roof of their back porch.

The Palmerton Area High School Honor Roll for the second marking period of the first semester of the 2009-10 school year has been announced by Ms. Kathleen A. Egan, Principal.

High Honors (3.75-4.00+ GPA in all subjects)

Seniors: Kelli Arner, Lisa Bisbing, Jessica Fegley, Courtney Gruber, Stephanie Gursky, Frank Hall, Daniel Haney, Robert Keyser, Madeline Koller, Sarah McGuigon, Keith Meyers, Marcus Pitts, Elisabeth Raub, Jesse Reis, Rachel Ruch, Victoria Solt, Kimberly Varano, Jennifer Villa, Alyssa Wentz, Kaitlin Westermann

Support for a community project that will install benches in the Palmerton Borough Park has been off the charts.

So much so, that the Palmerton Concourse Club must actually put a cap on sponsorships by the end of this year for its Benches Program.

Due to an "overwhelming response"of donations and sponsors, 87 benches have been sponsored to date, according to Christine Campbell, president.

In fact, Campbell said the group already has a minimum of eight class sponsored benches from the likes of the Classes of 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1959, among others.