40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 38 USPS 248-700
September 22-28, 2011 A General Circulation Newspaper Serving The Community Since 1942
SERVING BATH, CHAPMAN, NORTHAMPTON, NAZARETH BOROS; ALLEN, E. ALLEN, MOORE, LEHIGH, BUSHKILL, LOWER NAZARETH & UPPER NAZARETH TWPS.
Three officer installations at American Legion Post 470
ECKLEY PATCH POST #470 Legion Commander Larry Becker received congratulations from 30th District Commander Joseph Kluk. – Home News photos
Issue of ordinance for McAuliffe Expansion again stirs Lehigh debate By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
The debate that was carried on between Zoning Hearing Board chairperson Dr. Katherine Mack and the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors on August 9 was repeated almost word for word again on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Again it was a heated discussion as Mrs. Mack said the board should not have enact-
ed an ordinance for a single business to expand and set hours of operation because they acted improperly, and contrary to a state court decision regarding the McAuliffe refuse hauling operations along Timberline Road. At the August 9 meeting, Supervisor Dell Grove said Dr. Mack should put her concerns in writing. She did, and Solicitor David Backenstoe acknowledged that last Tues-
Farmers, hunters disagree Over proposed change in Sunday hunting laws By JOE KORBA The Home News
State Representative Marcia Hahn, R-Northampton, hosted a public hearing on Thursday, September 15 on controversial House Bill 1760 that would allow hunting on Sundays in the state for the first time since the ban was imposed in 1873. Pennsylvania is one of eleven states that still have restrictions on Sunday hunting. Members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee heard arguments both for and against the proposed change for about an hour and
a half in a crowded conference room in the East Allen Township Municipal building. Rep. Hahn opened the meeting by claiming that 62% of people in her Northampton County district are against changing the law on Sunday hunting. The first person to speak was Robert Krause, a 40-year resident of Nazareth, who represented the Pennsylvania State Grange, a pro-agriculture grassroots organization that has over 10,000 members statewide. Krause voiced the Grange’s opposition to H.B. 1760 on grounds of the risk to Continued on page 13
Installation ceremonies for three organizations that are a part of Eckley E. Patch Post #470, American Legion, in Bath were conducted on Wednesday night, Sept. 14. The meeting was opened by Post Commander Larry Becker, and then refreshments were enjoyed before a plaque and trophy were presented, and then the officer installations took place with officers of the 30th District leading them.` Baseball Presentations The coach of the Bath Senior Legion baseball team presented a plaque to Alex Longernecker, as most valuable player this past season. He played shortstop for the
team, which had a 20-3 seasonal record in the Northampton County League and went on to excel in regionals. “This was the finest team I’ve ever coached,” said Dave Brong, Sr. He noted Longernecker’s outstanding high school record, as well as with the Senior Legion team, and noted that he is now enrolled at Northampton Community College, saying that he played baseball with “heart, stealth, courage and faith.” The latter ingredient in his make-up, Brong said, was when he saw Longernecker praying in the dugout just before taking the mound against Nazareth, and then he went on to throw a four-hitter.
A large trophy was presented to Becker for the Post Home, as the baseball team finished second to Nazareth in the regional playoffs. Installations These were the officers installed: Legion Auxiliary, Unit 470 – Laura Diehl, president; Tina Druckenmiller, vice president; Robin Meixsell, treasurer; Sandy Becker, chaplain; Denise Becker, sergeant-atarms, secretary Tiffany Fritz and historian Tara Hitzel were not present. The officers were seated by outgoing Legion Auxiliary president of the 30th District, Kathy Olker. Continued on page 7
day at the supervisors’ meeting. While the expansion could come under a special exception, it cannot be a nonconforming use. The ZHB hasn’t ruled on the issue as yet, and won’t until October. Backenstoe doesn’t believe it is spot zoning, but Dr. Mack also doesn’t believe that the ordinance passed for McAuliffe complies with the zoning ordinance by giving this Continued on page 9
90 deer die Of EHD at Danielsville farm By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
News that deer had died from a tiny insect bite broke on Friday morning in Camp Hill, Pa., when Lee Marsh of Danielsville reported to the Pa. Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs that 120 deer had died at the Kleintop Farm in Danielsville. He reported it to Matt Hough, Deputy Executive Director of the Pa. Game Commission, who said information he had received was that 19 deer had died in Northampton County. Since then, it has been learned that the true figure was approximately 90 whitetail deer that have expired on the farm of Larry Kleintop, called Mountain View Deer Farm. The cause, gnatlike flies called midges that bring on a death-dealing virus called EHD or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. It only affects cervids – deer, elk or moose – not cattle or any human being. The virus causes an infecContinued on page 3
SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION Commander Michael Witkowski is congratulated by David Olker of the 30th District.
POST 470 AUXILIARY president Laura Diehl accepts gavel from Kathy Olker of the 30th District Auxiliary.