From a police officer saving a young girl’s life to a dog being rescued from a sewer drain, lots of good news surfaced throughout the Times News coverage area in 2023. The positives also included a Panther Valley teacher being recognized in Washington and, closer to home, Palmerton firemen being recognized by the town’s borough council.

Here are just a few of the “good news” stories we were happy to report on in the past year:

Officer rescues girl from fire

Nesquehoning native Michael Hrebik, a 2014 graduate of Panther Valley High School, in early May saved an 11-year-old girl who was trapped inside a burning home on Arch Street in Pottsville.

According to reports, the girl was in a bedroom upstairs, but smoke was so thick she couldn’t make it out. At the time, she was hanging out the back window in hopes of being saved.

Hrebik attempted to make a rescue by entering the home but after smoke was too heavy, he exited the building, but not before carrying the kitchen table to the rear of the building, putting it under the window where the girl was. He then placed a chair on the table, making a makeshift ladder, from where the girl jumped into his arms.

The girl ended up only sustaining minor burns and Hrebik went back to his duty, not feeling like he had just become a hero. He was later recognized by VFW Post 8008 of Nesquehoning for his heroic act.

Dog rescued from drain

A 14-year-old blind and deaf poodle mix, Pierre, owned by Sandy Gazdick of Nesquehoning, fell into a borough sewer drain but fortunately was rescued by Bob Pilla of the Nesquehoning Sewer Authority, assisted by Police Chief Michael Weaver and Tom Connors, the county’s K-9 officer. It happened in September.

Pilla used a crane and high powered magnet on the authority’s truck to lift the heavy grate from the mouth of the drain, lowering himself into the darkness and tried to spot the dog.

He initially couldn’t find Pierre, but, knowing the layout of the borough’s drain system, he exited and went to the next spot, at the bottom of the hill on Mill Street.

And sure enough, he spotted the dog sitting in a box drain underneath the street. Pilla hooked the crane and magnet to the grate, flipped a power switch and hoisted it into the air. Connors, Weaver and others helped.

Pierre stayed in place as Pilla climbed down to rescue him.

Mental health help

Realizing the constant need to assist veterans, police and first responders who battle challenges associated with mental health issues, including post traumatic stress disorders, former Slatington police officer David Alercia and his wife, Danielle Sheehan, co-founded the nonprofit organization St. Michael’s Warriors.

The organization is not affiliated with any religious organization, but Alercia said he chose St. Michael because he thinks of him as a protector, and this organization is meant to help people who have served society as protectors.

“Any first responder, military personnel, or their family can contact us, and we will be an advocate for them on where to get help, what type of help they may need, along with what to expect when they get that help,” Alercia said. They will “stay with them to see their success in getting where they were before their trauma happened.”

Alercia was the officer wounded when Slatington police and Pennsylvania State Police were trying to apprehend an attempted murder suspect in 2020. The suspect fired an AK-47 at police, striking Alercia in the arm.

PV teacher recognized

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, who represents Carbon County in the U.S. House of Representatives, recognized Mark Lavine, a Panther Valley School District teacher, on the House floor during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

Wild heaped praise on the educator for having “made an incredible impact on the lives of kids in my community,” she said in an address to the House in Washington, D.C.

A sixth-grade math teacher, Lavine also serves as high school football coach, adviser for the academic quiz challenge and organizer of school Spirit Day.

Wild said, “Hardworking and compassionate, Mr. Lavine doubled the size of his math classes to cover for a colleague on a leave of absence, twice. He is known as the ‘big brother’ on staff as a mentor to new teachers, and his energy inspires a love and curiosity for math in his students.

“Mr. Lavine epitomizes the dedication of so many educators across PA-7, who foster a lifelong love for learning in our kids.”

Palmerton firefighters honored

Three Palmerton firefighters - Rob Sell, Gary Bonser and Brittany Stepp - were acknowledged for their dedication and efforts in serving the community.

In June, the Palmerton Borough Council honored members of the Palmerton Fire Company through a proclamation, with each of them receiving leather helmets for becoming certified for the Firefighter 1 Level.

Borough fire Chief Jason Behler said they had to complete 188 hours, including sometimes nights and weekends, to attain their certification. He said the firefighters learn the basics, including all the things needed to perform on the fire grounds safely.

Named college dean

In July, Darryl K. Ahner, Ph.D., dean for research at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, was named dean of the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science.

A son of Elaine and Maynard Ahner of Cherry Hill Road, Palmerton, he is a 1986 graduate of Lehighton Area High School and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Wright State is a public university in Dayton, Ohio.

Ex-Borough manager honored

In April, former Palmerton Borough manager Donna McGarry was named Borough Manager of the Year by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

She retired in February after working for the borough for 35 years in various capacities.

At the same event, the chamber named Palmerton Mayor Don Herrmann and Slatington Mayor Jeralyn Schoch the recipients of its Most Entertaining Mayors of the Year awards.

Lehighton honors fireman

In October, the Lehighton Fire Department honored Gary Frable, naming him Firefighter of the Year on the occasion of his 50 years of service to the company.

Frable is the current safety officer of the department who previously was named chief emeritus.

He began his service with the company in August 1973.

Heroic teacher

The Pleasant Valley School Board honored history teacher Marc Fleming after he jumped into action on Aug. 29 and came to the aid of a 12-year-old boy who was choking.

Board president Sue Kresge said Fleming noticed the boy gasping for air and in physical distress when he performed the Heimlich maneuver on his and was able to dislodge food he was choking on. The boy was examined by a school nurse and resume his normal activities.

Firefighters’ memory perpetuated

In a move to perpetuate the memory of two firefighters from New Tripoli who died in a fire in 2022 in West Penn Township, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill in October naming a section of Route 143 in Lynn Township “Heroes Highway.”

The proclamation memorializes firefighters Marvin Gruber and Zachary Paris who tragically lost their lives in a structure fire in Clamtown the year prior.

The section of Route 143 in their memory will run from the intersection of Route 309 to the Berks County border.