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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2025
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Looking by Back Ed Pany
Photo of the Month
Bath Portland Cement Company: Part 1 of 4
Horned larks sparring by Jeff Kaboly
A view of Bath Portland in 1906; from “The Lehigh Valley Cement Industry”
According to the American Bird Conservancy, “the horned lark is the only lark species native to North America. It is also found across much of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, at one season or another. This bird's namesake ‘horns’ are actually curled tufts
Bath Portland in the early 1900s, from “Bath and Its Neighbors” In today’s column, we are remembering the Bath Portland Cement Company. The plant was located on the current site of the Keystone Cement Company quarry on Route 329 in East Allen Township. Recently, this writer received a history of the Bath Portland Cement Company from Mrs. Barbara Wiemann, a historian with the Governor Wolf
Historical Society. Mrs. Wiemann graciously allowed us to print her writing and research with our many loyal readers. Mrs. Wiemann is a graduate of Palmerton High School and Millersville College, where she earned her library certification. She served as librarian at the Easton Area Public Library and the Henry F. Marx Local His-
tory Room for 42 years. According to the Easton Area Public Library webpage, the Marx Room contains the largest collection of local history and genealogy in northeastern Pennsylvania. A dedicated librarian, she continues her research with the Governor Wolf Historical Society. In this Continued on page 3
of black feathers that can be erected and are usually visible only at close range. Male birds sport these adornments during the breeding season, at times raising or lowering them expressively. Especially in winter, horned larks can be seen foraging along roadsides, in feedlots and
in fields where manure and waste grain are spread, especially when snow cover is heavy. Horned larks are early nesters, beginning as early as February even in northern states, where snowstorms are a risk. This prolific species may raise as many as three broods each year.”
Northampton School Board Hears 2025-26 preliminary Budget presentation By SAVANNAH BROWN During the Northampton School Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik and Business Administrator Craig Neiman presented the 2025-26 school year preliminary budget to directors.
Kovalchik reiterated that the presentation was merely the first run through of the budget, which doesn’t require submission for state approval until June, and therefore includes many potential reductions that the board will be able to weigh in on. Neiman then shared some of the districts
revenue highlights, which include numerous recent industrial developments such as JW Continued on page 7
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