JANUARY 23-29, 2014 Your Local News
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The Home News homenewspa.com
Five athletes, Wonder Team Named to NHS Hall of Fame
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Five Northampton High School students of past years were given special recognition for their outstanding abilities as the ninth annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony was held on Friday night in the high school gymnasium. Also given special recognition was the famed “Wonder Team” of 1937-1938. The five were Gregg Meyer, from the Class of 1995; Charles Shimer, Class of 1957; Christine Hunsicker, Class of 1995; Paul Heffner, Class of 1947; and Carole Weil, Class of 1981. Shimer was unable to be present, and Ms. Weil is deceased, having died of leukemia a year after her graduation. Her plaque was
accepted by her mother, Mrs. Carol Gilly. The program was held between JV and varsity basketball games of the Northampton Konkrete Kids and the Central Catholic Vikings. Supt. Joseph Kovalchik, who was a former basketball coach at Northampton, noted that the hall of fame honors contributors, coaches, athletes and teams. He said, “Academics is our number one priority, and athletics is an extension of it.” Gregg Meyer Kovalchik introduced Meyer, who he said was one of his students. Meyer told of his experiences in golf and how he got into the sport, thanking his parents for all of their support. Among his many honors in golf: East Penn
Residents Protest FedEx Warehouse in Allen Twp. By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
More than 150 residents turned out Monday night as the Allen Township Planning Commission held the first of what might be several meetings concerning the vast FedEx warehouse project that will become a distribution hub for the company. The Rockefeller Group out of New York is proposing the plans. The $175 million facility will occupy 253 acres on land that is presently owned by the Lehigh – Northampton Airport Authority along Willow Brook Rd. in the Township. The residents fear noise,
light and most of all the amount of tractor-trailer traffic that will be coming and going from the facility. FedEx expects 1,800 tractor-trailers, 580 delivery trucks, and more than 12,000 cars driven by its employees. To accommodate the traffic, FedEx will add three lanes to Race St., a third lane to Airport Rd. and two lanes to Willow Brook Rd, which will cost FedEx 25 million. The airport authority is selling the land for $9.6 million to help pay of its debt of many more millions of dollars. They also see it as a way of stabilizing the airport’s standing and Continued on page 7
championship; runner-up in District XI; most outstanding golfer in EPC; ExpressTimes Scholastic Golfer of the Year; set course record of 66 at Southmoore Golf Course in Moore Twsp.; club champion there and at Green Pond and Whitetail; winner in American Legion championship and Rutgers Open. He was also a participant on professional tour in such events as Price Cutter Charity Championship, Hooters Tour, Steamboat Classic and National Club Professional Championship. Presently, he is the head golf professional at Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville. Charles Shimer Shimer lettered three years in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior he earned 1st Team All Lehigh Valley League and won L.V. League point title with 20 touchdowns, a record that stood until 1961. His record 38 career TD’s in a nine-game season still stands. He led his football team to an undefeated season in 1956. He played semi-pro football in the U.S. Army, and against military players from West Point, and played professionally in the European Championship. Christine Hunsicker Debbie Anthony of the selection committee introduced Christine Hunsicker, notContinued on page 9
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME awards were given to (l-r) Paul Heffner, Carol Gilly (for her daughter, the late Carole Weil), Christine Hunsicker, and Gregg Meyer.
RELATIVES of the “Wonder Team” were present to accept the recognition that was given in Friday’s ceremony. – Home News photos
73rd Year, Issue No. 4
INDEX: Bath...............................7
Sermonette..................11
Northampton.................9
Obituaries ...................12
Nazareth ......................10
Food, Family & Fun.......15
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