MARCH 13-19, 2014 Your Local News
The Home News
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Chestnut St. fire Remains under investigation, Despite victim’s claims By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Hickory Hills residents to Form home association By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
An estimated 200 residents of the 340-home Hickory Hills community came out to a meeting on Sunday at the Klecknersville Rangers Fire Co. hall to tell their stories and to find answers for their problems. It was sparked by a Feb. 14 propane gas explosion and fire that killed one of their neighbors.
Rep. Marcia Hahn
Following prayer and a set of ground rules to make the debate civil, moderator Regan Friend introduced two representatives of another manufactured home community in East Allen Township, Greenbriar Village. Randy Schaffer, president, and Tom Blackton, vice president, advised them on how to form a home association. They said there are laws that protect the residents and they need to know them – Acts 261 and 80. Schaffer said, “As dreadful as the event of Feb. 14 has been, what it has done is made available probably the best opportunity that your community will have to organize yourself.” A petition was distributed, which nearly everyone signed at the end of the meeting. It asks the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas to issue an injunction against Continued on page 8
Bath Borough to seek grant for 9-hole disc golf course at park By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Bath Borough Council at its meeting last Wednesday (delayed because of a threatened snowstorm) voted to apply for a grant through the Northampton County Municipal Park Acquisition & Development Program. If successful, the borough would match the $14,267.50 from the county with an equal amount to have the $28,535 necessary to build a nine-hole disc golf course at Bath Volunteer Firefighters Park on N. Chestnut Street in 2015. According to Councilwom-
an Jennifer George it would be built according to the certified design and standards of the Professional Disc Golf Association. As explained in the application to be filed by Borough Manager Tom Petrucci, that park is perfect for the location because the project would not require land development, impose long-term additional maintenance costs, or disturb the existing topography of the park land. In the application, he says,” Volunteer Firefighters Park will undergo a transformation from an underutilized tract of land Continued on page 16
Fire victim John Briele reportedly told Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple that fumes from a solvent he was using to clean his motorcycle engine exploded and caused the fire that broke out last Monday morning in the basement of his home at 128 S. Chestnut St., Bath. Although it is believed accidental, the State Police fire marshal is assisting CRPD in the investigation of the cause, although conceding that it is very possible that Briele is correct. Until the investigation is complete, at this point the cause is still undetermined. Briele told Chief Seiple that he flipped a switch on a fan just before the fire broke out. Cpl. William Brett, the fire marshal from Dublin, Pa., who heads the investigation out of Troop M, said,”It’s very possible the fire began that way. It may have been him
Moore Tp. Supervisors Hear snow gripes; Crew did their best By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Moore Township’s Board of Supervisors heard several complaints of snow not being cleared from residents’ roads when they met on Tuesday, March 4. But Chairman David Tashner said the road crew did the best they could with the equipment they have and the manpower available. He said it snowed 33 inches in February and the crew spent 1,376.5 man-hours clearing it, using volumes of road salt and diesel fuel to do the job. They have just enough salt for one more storm. The township has eight vehicles that were used, including a grader and backhoe. Tashner said he pulls men off the job when he sees it is not safe, and they did their best, plowing snow and repairing equipment. One resident complained of snow on .3 of a mile on Smith Rd., claiming he was snowed in for 44 hours. Vehicles were stuck in the snow. Tashner said they were not equipped to handle what piled up on Danner and Smith Rds. Tashner said when some equipment is stuck, they have to use other equipment from another section to get them out, and there’s a delay in the other section. Andrews Rd. was also cited. In all, about five residents complained, and the superviContinued on page 15
just turning on the switch.” The basement is a confined space where fumes could build up. Police will continue to talk to Briele when he recovers from his burns. Brett said he was amazed that the Bath man didn’t die from the destruction he saw. The 43-year-old father of six was admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township for treatment of burns he suffered in the explosion. It took firefighters from several fire companies more than three hours to completely extinguish the blaze in the three-story, single-family home that is adjacent to the Red Wolf Bar & Grille at Main & S. Chestnut Sts. Chief Seiple said they did a great job in containing the fire to just the home and none other, despite the threat of an explosion from a natural gas pipeline into the home. The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross
provided temporary lodging for the Briele’s at a hotel for three days. It was reported at last Wednesday’s Borough Council meeting that the family has no insurance. An unidentified woman purchased a $100.00 gift card at My Place Restaurant for the Briele family.
Emergency drive started To assist Bath fire victims By THE HOME NEWS STAFF
An emergency meeting was held last Tuesday at Christ UCC Church in Bath to plan a drive to assist the Briele family of eight (mother, father, five teenage girls, and a boy), who lost everything in last Monday’s fire. It is headed by Mrs. Jeannie Judd Wagner of the Bath Area Food Bank. What the family needs are clothing, financial aid, household items, personal care items, and food. Clothing: The family has five teenaged girls. They wear size 2 or 3 pants, medium, and large tops and size 8 and 9 shoes. The son wears 14/16 boys pants, medium shirts and size 8 shoes. . .The mother wears large 12/13 pants, large tops and size 10.5 or 11 shoes. . . The father wears XL trousers, 2X shirts, and size 10.5 shoes. Clothing can be dropped off at Christ Church on Chestnut St. until this Friday, March 14. Drop off times are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and Monday through Thursday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. Volunteers are needed to staff this collection. Clothing the family can’t use will be donated to the Bath Area Food Bank. Financial: A benevolent fund has been established at Christ Church to accept
money. 100% of the donations designated for the Briele family will be used for their benefit. It may be distributed in the form of direct payment for bills, housing, gift cards, and cash. Checks should be made payable to “Christ Church of Bath, UCC” with “Briele Family” noted on the check. Cash donations should be dropped off or mailed to the church at Christ Church of Bath, UCC, 109 S. Chestnut St., Bath, PA 18014. Please provide name and address with the donation so the gift can be acknowledged. Household Items: The committee will work with the Briele family to determine needed household items and will make a list available on Facebook and e-mail to other groups once they have secured housing. . . VolunContinued on page 5
73rd Year, Issue No. 11
USPS 248-700