Municipalities Discuss Aggressive Development

The six member communities of the Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Development Plan meet for the first time since the plan was signed eight years ago.

The six members of the Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan met Wednesday for the first time since the document was signed eight years ago. The plan, signed by the boroughs of Emmaus, Alburtis and Macungie and Lower Macungie, Upper Milford and Lower Milford townships, was designed to control development and preserve open space throughout the region. It mandates that those who signed the agreement send to the other partners notice of any potential zoning changes for review and comment. Upper Milford Supervisor Rob Sentner first mentioned calling all the municipalities together about three months ago. He opened the meeting with a statement calling for “no finger-pointing,” and for the most part, there was none. Times have changed …

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Fatal Fire: Cause Not Suspicious, Police Say

After official investigation, the Emmaus Police Department says that the cause of a fatal fire in an apartment building on Sunday is not suspicious.

Police say the fire that ripped through an apartment building and killed four people at 36-38 S. Fifth St. in Emmaus on Sunday was not of suspicious origin. No signs of criminal activity have been found. There's no word yet on what caused the fire. Official word on the identities of the dead came Tuesday evening. Victims include a mother and her 16-year-old son, who was a student at Emmaus High School. Her boyfriend, who was visiting, also died. A funeral fund for the victims has been established. Firefighters are collecting gift cards and donations to help survivors replace their belongings. The Emmaus Police Department released the following statement Wednesday: The Emmaus Police Department in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State …

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14 Churches Helping Homeless 1 Family at a Time

A project to help homeless families in the East Penn School District is starting small with one apartment in Emmaus and a wealth of potential.

A new project to help the homeless is starting one family at a time in the East Penn School District. Fourteen churches that make up Emmaus Ecumenical Ministries are chipping in to rent a three-bedroom apartment as transitional housing where a local family can stay until it gets back on its feet. The first family to benefit—a couple and their elementary school-age son—moved into the apartment in December. They're already working on their exit plan now that the adults have secured part-time work and are developing a family financial plan thanks to weekly coaching. The Ecumenical Ministries group hopes to be able to help three families per year—but the program has lots of potential to grow. "Great things often start really small," said Rev. …

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Who Has $225,000 Lottery Ticket Sold in Emmaus?

Pa. lottery officials are waiting for the owner of a Cash 5 lottery ticket worth $225,000 to claim his/her prize.

The owner of a Cash 5 ticket worth $225,000 from the Feb. 24 drawing sold at Hess, 4002 Chestnut St., Emmaus hasn't claimed his/her prize yet, lottery officials told Patch on Thursday. It sometimes takes a few weeks for the winner to come forward, they said. The ticket correctly matched all five balls, 06-12-14-15-26, to win a jackpot of $225,000, less 25 percent federal withholding. The Hess store will get $500. Cash 5 winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes. There's also another Cash 5 winner somewhere in our area. A ticket worth more than $371,000 from the Feb. 22 drawing was sold at Hess, 3640 Route 309, Orefield. That ticket correctly matched all five balls, 02-17-23-24-36, to win a jackpot of $371,418.50, less 25 …

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2 Men Killed by Trains on Same Day

Two young men - one in Northampton County and one in Carbon County - were hit and killed by trains Sunday

Two young men were killed by trains -- one was ruled a "suicide by train" -- in the greater Lehigh Valley area on Sunday. There's no indication the deaths were related, but were instead a bizarre coincidence. On Sunday, a 19-year-old Wilson man died after being hit by a Norfolk-Southern Train near Island Park Road along the Lehigh River in Glendon, according to Pennsylvania state police at the Belfast barracks. The man's legs were severed, said Easton Police, and he died of blunt force trauma injuries at St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill. His death has been ruled a suicide by the Northampton County Coroner, according to a Lehigh Valley Live report. His name has not been released pending notification of his next of kin. …

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Death Threat Targeted Emmaus Girl, Police Say

Girl at her Orefield-area school is charged after saying she would have schoolmate shot, troopers report.

An Emmaus girl was the victim of a recent shooting threat at the Orefield-area school that she attends, according to police. The 17-year-old and a 16-year-old girl from Allentown argued at the Lehigh Learning and Adjustment School at 2936 Corporate Court in Weisenberg Township, according to state police at Fogelsville. The Allentown girl about 11:45 a.m. Feb. 12 threatened to have the Emmaus girl shot as a result. The victim and teachers reported the incident to police, troopers said. The Allentown girl was charged with terroristic threats and harassment, police said.

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Valentine, Machete, Brass Knuckles Found in Stalker's Car, Police Say

Flint Andrew Staton, of Montgomery County, was arrested in Emmaus after a police officer saw him following his estranged wife to work, according to court documents.

A 30-year-old Montgomery County man stalked his estranged wife while driving a car filled with weapons including three large knives, brass knuckles, a stun gun baton—and a Valentine's card, according to court records. He was wearing body armor under his clothes when he was arrested by Emmaus Police, and a handgun was later found in the car, the court records say. Flint Andrew Staton, of 221 Fulmer Road, Perkiomenville, was arrested last week after a police officer saw him following his estranged wife, Anne Staton, to work. Staton had an outstanding arrest warrant against him stemming from a Jan. 31 incident, court records say. According to the criminal complaint, Staton had sent his estranged wife numerous texts and emails at "unreasonable…

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Dave

10:28 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013

I only poke fun because the guy got caught before he did anything thank God!   more ›

Scanner: Fire Rips Through Emmaus Duplex

Twin home was engulfed with flames soon after initial reports, according to emergency transmissions. At least one person received smoke inhalation.

A two-alarm fire tore through a twin home in the eastern section of Emmaus early Monday, sickening at least one and badly damaging the two joined dwellings, according to emergency scanner transmissions. Fire was reported about 12:40 a.m. on the rear porch at 502 E. Main St., according to the transmissions. A second caller, from the Dalton Street side, quickly reported a fire to the rear as well. An Emmaus ambulance was summoned to tend to at least one smoke inhalation victim, according to another transmission, even before the second alarm was struck. The first arriving Emmaus firefighters requested a second alarm, bringing a tanker from Vera Cruz, a pumper from Western Salisbury and a Rapid Intervention Team from Alburtis, the latter to …

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Lehigh Valley Mom Organizes Artwork for Sandy Hook Project

Lisa Fiore is asking everyone she knows to create artwork for the children and families of Sandy Hook Elementary School as a way to let them know people are thinking about them.

An Emmaus mom is urging her family and friends to grab their crayons and some construction paper and show their support for the Connecticut elementary school where last week a lone gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing 20 children and six adults. Lisa Fiore has been asking everyone she knows to create artwork for the children and families of Sandy Hook Elementary School to let them know that people all over the country are “thinking about them and holding them in healing thoughts.” And now, Fiore, mom to a second-grader at Shoemaker Elementary School, is asking the Emmaus Patch community to join the effort. “The children and families of this community are forever changed. I would love to show support to the school from towns all over …

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East Penn School District

East Penn Opens High School Locker Room for Showers

Emmaus and East Penn residents who are still without power can shower in the high school locker room this morning from 9 to noon.

The Borough of Emmaus is calling Emmaus and East Penn residents this morning with the following news: East Penn School District has opened up the Emmaus High School Locker Room  for those still without power following Hurricane Sandy. Those who need a shower can used the facilities from 9 am to noon Sunday, Nov. 4. The district asks that people enter at the gymnasium entrance off of North Street. Those who get this message are being asked to pass it on to those who may need it and not have phone service.

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