Turtle Creek Mayor Walks Borough To Confront Issues

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Turtle Creek Mayor Adam Forgie said that in order to fix the problems in the borough of 6,400 people, he needs to see them.

Three weeks ago, he began what he calls the “Walk and Talk” initiative — residents can call the mayor’s office and schedule a tour of their street with Mr. Forgie, during which they can point out and discuss concerns.

Mr. Forgie, who grew up in Turtle Creek and is now a history teacher at the Woodland Hills Academy in the borough, said the complaints from residents range from unkempt lawns to drug deals in alleys.

While an overgrown yard might seem minor, the mayor said he understands residents’ frustration.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/turtle-creek-mayor-walks-borough-to-confront-issues-703046/#ixzz2egxuSlZA

Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Terminated

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Former Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole, who was demoted to sergeant in February and then placed on paid administrative leave a week ago, has been terminated, manager Lynette McKinney confirmed late Wednesday night.

He was informed via a letter delivered this afternoon, she said.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/demoted-monroeville-police-chief-terminated-702873/#ixzz2egw7Hu00

Judge Clears Hotel Brunswick For October Reopening In Downtown Lancaster

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A Lancaster County judge has OK’d a series of agreements that will allow a developer’s plan to makeover the shuttered Hotel Brunswick.

Judge Jeffery Wright signed an order Wednesday that includes 21 operating agreements between the city, the district attorney’s office and developer John Meeder’s Meeder Development Corp.

The order clears the remaining legal hurdle Meeder had in reopening what was once a city landmark.

Meeder said Wednesday that the order keeps his planned reopening date of “early October” right on track.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/893882_Judge-clears-Hotel-Brunswick-for-October-reopening.html#ixzz2egteqhCq

Pittston Couple Charged With Selling Synthetic Pot

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WEST PITTSTON, PA — The owners of an Exeter smoke shop were arraigned Wednesday on charges they sold synthetic marijuana, racking up as much as $5,000 in sales a day, according to arrest papers.

The state Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation allege Sharleen Palaima, 62, and her husband, Alfonse Richard Palaima, 64, of Division Street, Pittston, sold synthetic marijuana from their business, Magikal Garden, on Wyoming Avenue from March 2012 through the end of July 2012.

Magikal Garden was one of many retail smoke stores and gasoline service stations across the state raided on July 26, 2012, in Operation Artificial High, an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, state police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The searches resulted in the seizure of more than 300,000 doses of synthetic marijuana and illegal bath salts, with an estimated street value of $1.25 million, and more than 50,000 pieces of drug paraphernalia related to the smoking or consumption of synthetic drugs, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/824132/Pittston-couple-charged-with-selling-synthetic-pot

Easton Approves $1 Million Grant For Public Market Project

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Easton will get a public market in every way.

City Council voted Wednesday to give the Greater Easton Development Partnership, a city-run and supported entity, $1 million toward turning the former Weller Health Education Center into a public market.  The market would occupy much of the first floor of the building, in the 300 block of Northampton St., and feature small shops run by local food producers and vendors.

Council voted 5-2 on the grant, with Elinor Warner and Roger Ruggles in opposition. GEDP plans to pay back the grant, but since the deal had to be structured as a grant, there is no guarantee of repayment.  That irked Ruggles. Warner questioned whether the market could generate enough money to payback the city, and whether it was a good investment of tax payer money.

“I just think the public market shouldn’t be paid for by the public,” Warner said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-city-council-approves-alpha-building-sal-20130912,0,7723454.story#ixzz2egokxgcm 
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Defense To Conduct Autopsy Of Baby Left In Toilet At Starters Pub

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Defense attorneys for a woman accused of killing her newborn baby after secretly giving birth in a bathroom of a Lower Saucon Township pub will conduct an outside autopsy of the body.

Amanda C. Hein, 27, of Allentown was charged last month with homicide after authorities said she delivered a healthy and viable boy in a bathroom stall of Starters Pub, placed him in a plastic bag and left him in the tank of the toilet.

In a letter to prosecutors this week, Northampton County Chief Public Defender Michael Corriere said he has retained a forensic pathologist, Dr. Supriya Kuruvilla, to conduct an autopsy for the defense.

The request wasn’t unexpected, since the viability of the baby — initially called a “fetus” by Lower Saucon police, the same term Corriere used — could be a key argument in Hein’s case.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-starters-pub-baby-found-in-toilet-autopsy-20130911,0,7779054.story#ixzz2egmIhbo0
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Edinboro University Wants To Cut 42 Faculty, 5 Majors

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EDINBORO, PA – Edinboro University wants to cut more than 50 staff, including 42 professors, and eventually eliminate five majors due to declining enrollment and a resulting projected budget deficit.

The announcement comes a month after Clarion University announced plans to cut up to 40 jobs, including 22 faculty, and suspending music education, German and French courses.  The schools are two of 14 that comprise the State System of Higher Education. Kutztown University is one of the 14.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=510618