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ournal-herald THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024 • Volume 43 – No. 45 ©2024, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–145th YEAR, NO. 32
SINGLE COPY– 75¢ (USPS 277440)
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–145th YEAR, NO. 6 HEAVY WIND AND RAIN throughout the area on Wednesday brought down trees in various locations. At left, large pines near the entrance to the Evergreen Apartments in Weatherly suffered storm damage. A section of trees along Lehigh Gorge Drive, just south of the CarbonLuzerne County line, showed a pattern of tree damage, including a tree leaning on the phone lines. Crews were out cleaning up throughout the region, which fortunately did not have the extensive power outages that were experienced in Lehighton and the Lehigh Valley. Storms predicted for later in the week were less intense, though they did produce some significant rainfall. JH: Seth Isenberg
Weatherly Area School Board holds taxes same, hires Rarick as business manager by Seth Isenberg The Weatherly Area School Board pushed its voting meeting to the last Wednesday in June, the 26th, to use the extra time to create a no tax increase budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Real estate taxes remain at 51.34 mills and a total of $17,218,943. With interim business manager Dr. Alan Lonoconus’ numbers, some additional income from new homes, and approximately $300,000 from the fund balance, taxes hold steady on a 9 to 0 vote by members. The Board also approved a
2024 Homestead and Farmstead resolution which will distribute a total of $551,694 in property tax reductions for 1,315 approved homesteads and 7 approved farmsteads in the WA School District (WASD). This was Dr. Lonoconus’ last meeting, as the Board hired Edward Rarick, left, as the fulltime business manager on a vote of 8 to 1, April Walters opposed. Rarick was business manager for the
Lehighton Area School District for three years through January 2024, and has been working in consulting prior to this hire. He will begin work on July 8 at a pro-rated salary of $90,000 plus benefits per the Act 93 contract. In comments after the meeting, Rarick said “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Weatherly family…and am looking forward to working with the administration, board and staff.” The Board approved another addition to the administration with the hiring of Rocco
Seiler into the position of the District’s technology director by unanimous vote. His salary is a prorated salary of $80,000 plus benefits per the Act 93 contract. Interviews are underway to find a replacement for long-time secretary Lori DeMoor who is retiring. Her last day is August 2. There are 17 applicants according to superintendent Daniel Malloy.
See WASB, page 3