Sandy Hook Tragedy Has Changed Macungie

Police have made schools more secure.

Last week's 100-day anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a reminder of the horror, but it was also a nod toward how things have changed even in and around Macungie. Though there are no public schools within the boundaries of the borough, Macungie Police Chief Edward Harry has made it a practice since Dec. 14 to stop in at Macungie and Shoemaker elementary schools—both technically in Lower Macungie—every day he's on duty. If there is ever an emergency, he would be the first one to respond, he says, due to his close proximity to the school. "I go in a walk around, wave to the kids. I talk to them," Harry says in an effort to allow the students to know who he is and so they're not afraid of him or in any way …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (3)

Crime and Fire

Top Lower Macungie Police Stories of 2012

Here are the top Lower Macungie police stories that generated the most interest from Patch readers in 2012.

Here are the top police stories that appeared on Lower Macungie Patch during 2012. They involve Macungie and/or Lower Macungie residents, and are based on reader interest: Lower Mac Man Found Dead in Township Woods, Police Say Coroner Says Emmaus Woman Died in Lower Macungie Road Crash 5 Also Hurt in Fatal Lower Macungie Accident Macungie Man Killed When Car, Tanker Collide on Buckeye Road Causing Fuel Spill; Witnesses Sought Man Tries to Lure Lower Mac Boy with Ice Cream, Police Say Teen Killed in Crash Was Preparing for Baby's Birth Police: Boy Raped by Township Worker Mayor Defends Putting GPS Units in Police Cars Alleged Rapist is Former Macungie Fire Chief Councilman Walker to Resign after Alleged Peeing Incident Trucker Stops Dead …

• Photos (1)

Stolen Car Found in Ancient Oaks, Police Say

State police at Fogelsville say a car stolen Nov. 16 from the Sunset Grille is recovered in a Lower Macungie neighborhood.

A 2002 Mercury Sable stolen from outside the Sunset Grille in Upper Macungie has been found in the Ancient Oaks neighborhood of Lower Macungie. State police at Fogelsville said the car, owned by Roberta Barga, was stolen between 2:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. on Nov. 16. Barga's son, who had been working as a DJ at the restaurant, had gone out to the parking lot to warm the vehicle, and when he returned, the car was gone. The car was parked on Violet Circle in Lower Macungie around Thanksgiving, state police said, and was thought to have been a neighbor's until they were called on Dec. 23 and it was found to be the stolen vehicle.

• Photos (1)

Too-Long Hug Lands Husband in Jail

Husband ignored state police order to stay away from wife and daughter at Lower Macungie counseling office.

Car Accident

5 Also Hurt in Fatal Lower Macungie Accident

Three adults and two children sustained moderate to major injuries, police say.

The head-on crash that killed an Emmaus woman Wednesday also seriously injured five others. Brandi Kralik, 41, of 920 Chestnut St., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred just after 3 p.m. on Lower Macungie Road directly in front of Lower Macungie Middle School. Judith Lynn Perrin, 67, and Kristine Lynn Perrin, 42, both of Lower Macungie, and an unnamed 10-year-old boy all sustained major injuries, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville. Additionally, Ciera Destiny Bellsfield, 19, and an unnamed 16-year-old boy received moderate injuries, police said. All were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment, they said. According to police, Judith Perrin was traveling west on Lower Macungie Road…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Willet Thomas

9:30 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012

Such a sad occurrence. We LMT seniors send our condolences to the family. I've seen several deadly accidents over the years further east on Lower Macungie Rd. Automobiles really push the "peddle to the metal" along that stretch of road leading up to the traffic light at Wild Cherry Ln.   more ›

Crime and Fire

Police: Copper Wire Still Attractive to Thieves

Construction sites continue to be at risk.

A recent rash of construction material thefts has continue. Omega Homes of Allentown reported the theft of 200 feet of copper wire between May 19 and May 24 at a Lower Macungie construction site, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville. Two partially built three-story townhouses -- 7125 and 7115 Pioneer Drive -- were the victims this time. Value of the wire was estimated at $45, but similar incidents have occurred in the area in recent months. State police are investigating.

• Photos (1)

Crime and Fire

Guard Those Credit Card Numbers

Lower Mac residents are victims of identity fraud, police say.

It's as true in 2012 as it was in 1967:  "The future is plastics." Benjamin Braddock, Dustin Hoffman's character in "The Graduate," was advised the future in business success was plastics.  Forty-five years later, with a slight twist, the future -- and present -- in access device fraud is the plastics of debit and credit cards. To continue a trend of recent weeks, state police at Fogelsville reported two more recent identity fraud cases.  An unidentified 49-year-old Aster Road resident was the first of the two to be victimized. Her debit card was compromised between Feb. 2 and March 8 for a total of $1,713.97. Elizabeth Delarosa of 3752 Notch St. also had numbers from her debit card stolen, police said.  They did not release the amount but…

• Photos (1)

Crime and Fire

Boy Charged With Setting Brush Fire

The 12-year-old was charged with criminal mischief for setting a fire that caused moderate damage.

State Police at Fogelsville recently released these Lower Macungie incidents: Charged: 12-year-old boy with criminal mischief following a 4:03 p.m. brush fire at 5563 Spring Ridge Drive W.; allegedly set a fire in a field that caused moderate damage that had to be extinguished by Lower Macungie Fire Department, police said; pending court proceedings. Criminal mischief: Reported March 9 by an Emmaus man; driver's door scratched with an object along N. Fairview Street, police said; no value given. Criminal mischief: Reported March 20 by Melissa Sue Kleckner of 5695 N. Walnut St.; object thrown at her vehicle, police said; no damage estimate provided. Charged: 15-year-old Allentown boy with retail theft at Wal-Mart, 1091 Mill Creek Road; …

• Photos (1)

Five Things to Know Today: October 2

It's NEVER too late to blog on Patch!

1. Weather: There's less of a chance of rain today than yesterday. The National Weather Service forecast for our area says the chance of seeing rain is around 40 percent. And the high temp will be near 60 degrees. 2. In Case You Missed It: Corliss Bachman visited Bellissimo Ristorante in Bites Nearby. 3. It's Never Too Late: What are you passionate about? Here's your chance to blog about it on Patch! Whether it's model trains or politics, parenting or the price of a new home these days, Patch welcomes you to say what you think right here. Contact me for details: mariella.savidge@patch.com. 4. Coming Up: We have a ViewFinder at 8 a.m. on the newly renovated State Police at Fogelsville Barracks. 5. Today in History: On this day in 1985, Rock…

• Photos (2)

Citizen Police Get a Peek into Law and Order

Lehigh County citizens police academy shows residents the inner workings of law enforcement

The first meeting of the Lehigh County Citizens Police Academy on Tuesday night attracted college students and school nurses from East Penn among the 30 area residents who wanted to learn more about the intricacies of police work. They met at Fogelsville Fire Co. #8 to hear stories like the one Peter Nickischer, a negotiator for the Lehigh County Crisis Negotiation Team, shared about how they ended a recent hostage situation with a young man on parole who held his mother at gunpoint in her Whitehall home earlier this month. “It was seven or eight intense hours,” said Investigator Nickischer, also a member of Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department. “The father was getting upset and demanding to know what was going on. He cut our phone line…

• Photos (2)