JANUARY 16-22, 2014 Your Local News
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Lehigh Township Lions Deliver Christmas Cheer for 40th Consecutive Year, Page 15
The Home News homenewspa.com
Moore Township Supervisors Have re-organization meeting By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
David Tashner was renamed chairman; newly elected supervisor Dan Piorkowski, vice chairman, and Richard Gable, secretary/ treasurer as the Moore Township Board of Supervisors held their re-organization meeting on Monday, Jan. 6. The trio was also named roadmasters, and Tashner will serve as Public Works Director. Then followed these other appointments: Sewage enforcement officer, Chris Noll and alternate sewage officer, Darin Martocci, both of Keystone Consulting Engineers; vacancy board chairman, LeRoy Bealer; designated depositories, National Penn and First Northern banks; township solicitor, David Backenstoe; township engineer, Keystone Consulting Engineers; earned income tax collector, Keystone Collections; zoning and building officer, Jason Harhart; emergency management coordinator, Henry VanBlargan. Junkyard permits will be $500; Rates/solicitation per-
mits, $25; and Animal boarding fee, $30 a day. Randy Silfies was appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board for a 5-year term; appointed to the Planning Commission for 4-year terms were Jason Harhart and David Frey, and for a 3-year term, Michael Wallery; appointed to the Land Preservation Board for a 2-year term were Robert Romano and William Poser. Non-contract wages, holidays, benefits, pay dates were also set for Jason Harhart, Brenda Detweiler, Lois Kerbacher. The IRS mileage rate will be 56 cents a mile. At the regular meeting that followed, these resolutions were approved: fee schedule; non-uniformed pension plan rate; police pension plan contribution exoneration, and chief administrative officer police pension plan. The police report for December showed 220 total incidents; 27 warnings; 20 traffic citations; 1 arrest for DUI in a motor vehicle accident; 9 reportable and 7 non-reportable accidents. Continued on page 7
Courtney Pintabone to compete in National cheerleading competition With Kutztown University
Submitted by BRYAN SALVADORE
Courtney Pintabone of Nazareth will compete for the Universal Cheerleading Association College National Championship Jan. 17 through 19 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla. Pintabone is a member of the Kutz-
town University cheerleading team which competes in the All-Girl Division I category. The Golden Bears will take on 12 teams from across the nation with the top six teams advancing to the final round. KU has been nationally ranked since 2009. See Photo on Page 10
Northampton School Board Hears preliminary budget
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Northampton Area Schools Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik and business manager Terry Leh spent more than an hour on Monday night briefing the School Board on the preliminary 2014-15 budget. Numbers will change, and this is largely dependent on what Governor Tom Corbett’s budget is on February 4, Kovalchik said. There will be an increase in taxes, and increased costs for teachers and health care are mostly responsible.Total salaries are figured at $59,394,063. Already there is a $5 million deficit, and 4.78 mills in taxes are needed for the projected
$2.5 million increase in the budget. The district has borrowed $29,720,000. Charter/ cyber schools for 181 students costs $2 million. Kovalchik said his father once told him, “Don’t spend unless you have it.” Efforts are being made to save wherever they can, and new teachers may not be hired when there are retirements. He said 7% less was budgeted because the administration won’t know until Feb. 4 how the Governor’s budget will affect the district. In year five of the debt, the district expects to decrease the millage increase. Act 1 exceptions that are applied for from the Pa. Dept. of Education can be
used as a safety net. The state has leveled off funds for special education, but costs have gone up. Each student costs several hundred thousand dollars a year. Local taxpayers are responsible for about 70% of the budget. Kovalchik said there are a “ton of unknowns” and they will do as much as they can to keep within means until the budget is finally approved in June. As part of the presentation, slides were shown noting the goals. The first set included: Opportunity to succeed in all areas; More options in academic choices; Develop a transition plan for past secondary activities for students with disContinued on page 9
Moore Spelling Bee Champion Crowned Submitted by CURT DIMMICK
Moore Elementary School held their annual school spelling bee on Monday, Jan. 13 and are proud to announce that the 2013-2014 winner is 5th Grade student Samuel Schoenen. Sam survived a grueling competition that had 14 students from Grades 5 and 6 go through 109 words until he was able to spell his winning word - logical - in the championship round. Sam faced
off against 6th grade winner Lois Krieger in the finals to take home the win. Congratulations to all of our classroom winners - Ryan A., Jordyn B., Milan L., Brandon M., Makayla N., Sam S., Cody S., and Isabella T. from 5th Grade...and Tyler A., Lois K., Logan M., Andrew S., Madalyn S., and Alyssa T. from 6th Grade. We wish Sam the best of luck as he moves on to the next round - Moore Elementary is behind you one hundred percent.
INDEX:
Samuel Schoenen
73rd Year, Issue No. 3
Outdoors........................6
Nazareth ......................10
Bath...............................7
Obituaries ...................12
Northampton.................9
Classifieds ...................14
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