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DECEMBER 19-25, 2013 Your Local News
The Home News homenewspa.com
Peace Pilgrimage
Bath robbery suspect captured After escaping custody By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
The man arrested for robbing Wunderler’s Market in Bath on October 18 escaped Monday following a hearing and was subsequently captured on Tuesday morning according to Nazareth Police. Daniel J. Preziosi, 24, got away from two constables following his preliminary hearing on Monday in Nazareth. As he was led out of the office of District Judge John Capobianco by the constables, Preziosi, in handcuffs, ran off and escaped in a vehicle wait-
Even the young realize the importance of peace. A boy, shown holding a sign, was part of Saturday’s Peace Pilgrimmage in Bethlehem. It had nearly 75 people braving the cold for the walk. (Story on page 25).
Lower Nazareth in quandary Over hike in CRPD budget
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Lower Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors chairman Eric Nagle recently voted “no” to the Colonial Regional Police Department budget for 2014. This past Wednesday, he asked the board if they would ratify his vote as the township faces a significant increase in the fee that is charged to them. Although the vote was split, they did just that. In 2013, Lower Nazareth’s share of the CRPD budget
was $1,114,519, and now for 2014 it will be $1,222,451, a 4% increase. Nagle said he figured that the cost per Lower Nazareth resident will come out to $210.49. His estimate per resident for Bath and Hanover Township, who are also a part of CRPD, is $160.00. Bath’s share of the $3,397,882 police budget is $404,198.19, while Hanover’s is $1,642,732.94. Both Bath and Hanover TownContinued on page 10
Taxes same for 2014 in Lehigh Twsp.
At their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors adopted the general fund budget for the year 2014. It calls for a real estate tax rate of 5.2 mills, which is the same as in 2013, despite a slight increase in total spending – going from $3,606,000 to $3,624,000. Township Manager Alice Rehrig said the extra funds
were needed for office supplies and equipment, but no major capital expenditures for police cars or fire trucks are planned. This past year, the board approved purchase of two new police cars and also upgraded the township building’s telephone system. One thing they may do is buy a pug mill for mixing materials to fill potholes in roads. As Continued on page 15
ing in a nearby parking lot. The handcuffs he had been wearing were later found in the locked position and had apparently been slipped off using petroleum jelly smuggled out of the prison. Change of Clothing He had been wearing a prison jumpsuit, but took it off and reportedly changed into a thermal shirt and pants. The vehicle Preziosi escaped in was a 1993 Toyota Camry with front-end damage. Colonial Regional Police charged Preziosi with robbery, assault, possession of
instruments of crime and theft, after he allegedly robbed Joyce and Donald Wunderler in their market on Main and Broad streets in Bath. DJ Capobianco had ordered Preziosi to be tried in Northampton County Court. As of press time Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta did not say how or when the escapee was found Tuesday morning. Preziosi will be charged with escape and was arraigned before DJ Capobianco on the new charge Tuesday morning.
Middle school construction On schedule despite snow
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
At Monday night’s meeting of the Northampton Area School Board it was noted that construction of the new middle school is on schedule. The recent snowstorms have had minor effect as the project moves right along, board president David Gogel said. Much of the meeting was devoted to personnel actions. • The resignation of Norman Kern, custrodian of Franklin Elementary School, was accepted. • Added to the athletic event staff for 2013-14 were the following: Mary Donnelly, usher/collector; Angela
Munjone and Michelle Newton, ticket sellers/collectors; and Andrew Snyder, security/usher. • Named to the NASD volunteer master list for the school year were the following: Kelly Barry and Jessica Kirkpatrick, Northampton Borough schools; Daniela Caiazzo, Victoria McEntire, Fawn Mollenkof, Daniela Saraka and Jennifer Schreiner, all George Wolf School; Jennifer Cole and Florangely Gonzalez, Lehigh; and Robert Marlatt, athletic. • Also, Mrs. Carol Cunningham, acting principal of Lehigh Elementary from Feb.
26 through April 25, 2014; voluntary transfer of Christopher Glovas to Monday through Friday custodian at Lehigh Elementary, effective Jan. 10, 2014, and voluntary transfer of Anthony Messina from middle school custodian to day shift custodian at Franklin Elementary, effective Dec. 17, 2013; voluntary transfer of Susan Hall from cafeteria monitor to security officer at the high school, effective Dec. 17. • Donna Teklits will attend the Attendance/Child Accounting Professional Association annual conference on March 19-21 in Hershey.
Christmas on Chestnut Street
Submitted by Carol Bear-Heckman
Christmas on Chestnut Street will be celebrated the weekend before Christmas on December 20 through the 22 on North and South Chestnut Streets in Bath. The public will enjoy shopping on one block with unique stores
and restaurants, Christmas specials, extended hours, greens, music, food, free gift wrap, crackling fires, messages, a book signing, and more. The stores participating include Steckel House Antiques (108 N. Chestnut St.), The Friendship
INDEX:
Tree (107 N. Chestnut St., Suite 8), S Seem Antiques & Artisans (100 S. Chestnut St.), Mountain Laurel Gift Baskets & Gourmet Foods (108 S. Chestnut St.), Christ Church UCC (109 S. Chestnut St.,), Red Wolf Bar & Grill (201 W. Continued on page 3
72nd Year, Issue No. 51
Sports............................6
Northampton...............15
Farm Show .....................9
Nazareth ......................16
Bath ............................13
Classifieds ...................28
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