Municipalities Move To Form South Valley COG

Six communities are moving forward on formation of a Lower South Valley Council of Governments.

The success of other government councils in Luzerne County has sparked enthusiastic support for a South Valley organization, said Andy Gegaris, city manager in Nanticoke.

“By the fall, I think we will have this together,” Gegaris said.

Communities that have met and remain in contact largely via emails are Nanticoke, Newport Township, Hanover Township, Plymouth Township, Sugar Notch and Ashley. The towns hope that Warrior Run also will join, Gegaris said.

Read more:

http://citizensvoice.com/news/municipalities-move-to-form-south-valley-cog-1.1851925

Pizza Hut, Lone Star Closing Kidder Street Locations

WILKES-BARRE, PA — Two more national brand eateries announced on Monday that they are closing their doors.

One week after its Hanover Township restaurant closed, and following two years of disappointing sales on a national level, Pizza Hut announced that its Kidder Street location also will shut down this week.

And Lone Star Steakhouse, part of a chain that features a Texas-inspired menu, will close its Kidder Street location this weekend. Employees at the restaurant confirmed Monday that the restaurant would close permanently on Saturday.

No one at Lone Star corporate offices in Plano, Texas, could be reached for comment.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/business-local-news-news/151386496/

Five Years After Opening, Crime From Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem Isn’t The Factor Some Feared

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio remembers the critics.

Debates raged about whether Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem would be a benefit or detriment to the city and its surrounding communities. DiLuzio, then a police lieutenant, gave in to his detective spirit and researched the subject.

Much of what he found indicated casinos were not a hotbed of criminal activity.

Five years later, DiLuzio is now chief of police — and he’s happy to report that he was right.

Read more:  http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/05/crime_not_a_major_factor_five.html

Sallie Mae To Add 300 To Hanover Township Center

English: Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania highlighting Hanover Township (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HANOVER TWP. — Sallie Mae will add an additional close to 300 people to its workforce at its loan servicing center in the Hanover Industrial Estates over the next two years.

The announcement was made this afternoon by Sallie Mae CEO John (Jack) F. Remondi, who was joined at the Hanover Township center by Gov. Tom Corbett.

“Pennsylvania is open for business. We are actively working with companies like Sallie Mae to help them create family sustaining jobs throughout Pennsylvania, and I welcome Sallie Mae’s continued investment in our commonwealth and its greatest asset – our people,” Corbett said.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/1035482/Sallie-Mae-to-add-300-to-Hanover-Township-center

Six People Arrested On Drug Trafficking Charges

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HANOVER TWP. — Two people were arrested after authorities allege they sold crack cocaine near a school and four others were picked up on heroin trafficking charges.

Egerton “Repo” Wood, 37, of Boland Avenue, Hanover Township, and Geovanni Henry Johnson, 32, of Horton Street, Wilkes-Barre, were arrested earlier this week on charges they sold crack cocaine within 1000 feet of the Hanover Area Memorial School on West Saint Marys Road.

Authorities allege they seized crack cocaine, marijuana, a scale and cash during the arrest and execution of a search warrant.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/1032802/Six-people-arrested-on-drug-trafficking-charges

Walgreens To Close Lehigh Valley Distribution Center, Lay Off 400

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Walgreens will close its distribution center in Hanover Township, Northampton County, marking one of the largest layoffs in the Lehigh Valley in recent years.

The facility’s 400 employees will be laid off in phases, beginning in mid-January and concluding in March. Employees at the center, at 125 Commerce Way in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV, were informed of the decision Thursday.

“Our Lehigh Valley Distribution Center has served the company since 1991, making the decision to close it a difficult one,” Emily Hartwig of Walgreens corporate media relations said Friday.

Hartwig said the layoffs are part of the drugstore chain’s effort to maximize efficiencies at its distribution centers across the region.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-walgreens-to-close-bethlehem-distribution-cente-20130927,0,1515055.story#ixzz2gCXpUaeT
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Copper Thieves Getting More Brazen, Causing Major Damage

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State police said someone broke into a Hanover Township, Lehigh County, youth treatment facility and pulled security cameras off the walls, stole copper pipes and caused significant flooding inside.

The burglary happened sometime between Dec. 1 and Friday, according to the news release. State police said the flooding damage and stolen property is estimated at $20,000.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-east-allen-copper-theft-public-welfare-20120110,0,6064875.story