March 12 March 18

Lansford calls for investigation Lansford Borough Council voted March 11 to authorize its solicitor to contact the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Auditor General over the Lansford-Coaldale Water Authority members collecting salary and benefits.Council Member Tommy Vadyak said, "The authority members have been collecting benefits for years; it is clear violation of the Municipal Authorities Act."Members said the issue has previously been referred to the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission; however there was no action taken by that body.Panther Valley board resignation Roy E. Angst, an often outspoken member of Panther Valley School Board, announced his resignation from the board effective April 27. The resignation date falls on his 88th birthday. Angst said "poor hearing and generally failing health" are the reasons for his resignation.He serves as legislative Pennsylvania School Board Association liaison and is chairman of the negotiating committee for the board regarding a teachers' contract.He said he has been attending board meetings for over 30 years.Students injured in bus crash Because two investigations are being conducted, little new information was given during a meeting of the Panther Valley School Board on March 12 regarding a school bus incident in Summit Hill during which 23 students were reportedly injured.Dennis R. Kergick, superintendent of schools, said there are investigations being conducted by both the school district and the Summit Hill Police Department.Kergick said the driver, whose name wasn't released, works for Kistler Bus Service which provides school bus transportation for the district, and has been prohibited from driving any district buses pending the outcome of the investigations.St. Patrick's Parade A nip in the air and an occasional snow flurry did little to dampen the St. Patrick's Day spirit in Carbon County on March 15.Thousands of revelers, many of them wearing green, lined Broadway and West Broadway in Jim Thorpe for the 18th annual Carbon County St. Patrick's Day parade.One day earlier, Mother Nature wiped out Bethlehem's celebration, leaving organizers in Carbon County feeling fortunate. Pottsville was also forced to cancel its parade.Grand marshal Gary Dobias, former Carbon County district attorney, led off the parade, which featured a number of bagpipe, drum and dance bands, local politicians and fire companies, and other area agencies.Counselor resigns position A former guidance counselor in the Tamaqua Area School District resigned this week amid allegations that she "engaged in nonprofessional communication with students."Nicole Henning, 24, of Ashland, surrendered her teaching certificate Feb. 2, according to the state Department of Education.Tamaqua Police Department said no criminal charges were filed against Henning.Henning was hired as a secondary guidance counselor in June 2014.Jim Thorpe native killed A 20-year-old Maryland man has been arrested for the death of a 54-year-old Upper Macungie Township woman, whose body was discovered March 15 in South Whitehall Township.Caleb Gregory Barnes, a U.S. Army specialist 4 stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, was arraigned Monday on homicide charges in the death of Cheryl L. Silvonek.Silvonek was from Jim Thorpe, and her husband, David Silvonek, was from Lehighton.Upper Macungie police were dispatched at 4:15 a.m. Sunday for a suspicious vehicle with a large quantity of blood inside parked across from a home at 5702 Haasadahl Road, Orefield.School project testimony Complying with state Act 34, the Lehighton Area School District held a public hearing on March 17 to accept comments, for and against the district's proposed building program.The district plans to build a new elementary center on part of a 91.25-acre campus that currently houses Lehighton High School and the district administration building at a price tag of $35 million.Opponents worry about the long-term debt students will be saddled with as taxpayers if they graduate and want to own a home in Lehighton. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that a new school, though costly, will yield more equitable class sizes and a safer, more progressive learning environment, among other benefits.The final decision rests with the school board.Shamrock Award About 200 people honored a Summit Hill woman on March 18, praising her for her contributions to the community, schools, churches and organizations and for serving as a "role model.Kathy Crampsie was the recipient of the 2015 Shamrock Award from the Panther Valley Irish-American Association during the group's annual banquet held at the Hill Top Community Center in Summit Hill.