Stroud police catch two burglars in one day

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Saturday was a good day to catch burglars for Stroud Area Regional Police.


At 9:40 a.m., they quickly responded to the report of a burglary in progress inside a Stroud Township home.


Police caught and arrested Michael A. Koepfler of Stroudsburg in the home.


Nearly 12 hours later, at 9:19 p.m., they were dispatched to another burglary in progress at Clive's Dry Cleaning and Alterations at 49 Washington St., in East Stroudsburg.


Police found Edward Andrew Olinsky of East Stroudsburg inside the business. He was arrested.






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Allentown receives $250,000 state recycling grant

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Allentown will receive a $250,000 state recycling grant that will be used for paper shredding and yard waste recycling.


The Recycling Program Development and Implementation Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will be used for a yard waste trommel screener and the purchase of a paper shredding system.


"We are very pleased to be able to improve the services and programs we provide to our residents and businesses as a result of these DEP grants," said Ann Saurman, manager of the the city's recycling and solid waste bureau, in a news release.


"The trommel screener allows us to make various grades of mulch and soon we will be able to add on-site paper shredding services for residents and businesses."


In the yard waste recycling process, wastes such as branches, trimmings and shrubs are shredded by the city's yard waste tub grinder.


After the materials are ground, the trommel screener will be used to separate the large wood chip mulch from the finer materials.


With a five-cubic-yard hopper, a trommel screener is capable of producing up to 150 cubic yards per hour of screened yard waste material.


Both the mulch and finer screened materials are available free to Allentown residents.


It is also used in city parks, flower beds and gardens.


The state has awarded $16.3 million to 120 municipalities in the latest round of grant applications which were submitted last August. Allentown is receiving the maximum amount.


Allentown's yard waste site is at 1401 Oxford Drive.


Mulch loading services are also available for a pre-paid fee of $12 per bucket load. Landscapers and others interested in obtaining large quantities of mulch should contact the bureau.


Landscapers are not permitted to drop off material at the city site.


Allentown's yard waste site is located at 1401 Oxford Drive.


For more information on recycling programs in the city, call the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste at 610-437-8729, or visit the bureau's .






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Bellante Properties will pay $19,120 in settlement

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Bellante Properties of Lehigh County will pay the federal government $19,120 to resolve allegations surrounding federally-funded housing assistance payments it received.


According to a civil complaint, Center Valley-based Bellante Properties received rent subsidy payments from the Lehigh County Housing Authority while unlawfully requiring a tenant to pay supplemental rental payments disguised as trash removal fees.


The lawsuit was filed by Karen Schware in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, under whistle-blower provisions of the False Claims Act.


That act allows private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery.


Bellante Properties and its principals, Vincent Fantozzi and Bernard Fantozzi, are barred for three years from participation in HUD's Section 8 rent assistance program, which provides affordable housing to low-income families.


According to the government's complaint, between July 2007 and September 2013, Bellante Properties received payments from the Lehigh County Housing Authority under the Section 8 program.


In addition to receiving federally-funded Section 8 rent assistance payments, and approved rent payments from the tenant, the government alleges that Bellante Properties also unlawfully required the tenant to provide supplemental rent payments that had not been approved by the Lehigh County Housing Authority.


The unlawful supplemental payments were disguised as trash removal fees.


The parties have agreed to settle the dispute for a payment by the defendants of $19,120 . Bellante Properties and its principals, Vincent Fantozzi and Bernard Fantozzi, are also barred for three years from participation in HUD's Section 8 program.


As a whistleblower, Schware will receive a share of the settlement proceeds. Bellante Properties will also pay Schware's legal fees.


The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.


The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel M. Sweet.






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Icy morning closes highways, causes accidents

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Icy roads caused multi-vehicle accidents throughout the region Sunday morning.


Sections of many roads throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Route 309 in Lehigh County, were closed until salt trucks could get to them, report emergency officials.


Black ice was reported on roads everywhere.


The east-west Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed in both directions from milepost 302 westbound due to icy conditions.


The Schuylkill Expressway is blocked in both directions near Gulf Mills Road, reported Channel 69's news partner WPVI.


An accident involving more than two dozen vehicles occurred on Interstate 76 in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, occurred just before 7:00 a.m.


Around the same time, a multi-vehicle crash with injuries occurred on the Blue Route -- Interstate 476 --in West Conshohocken has resulted in a ramp restriction.


The Ben Franklin Bridge, Walt Whitman Bridge, Burlington-Bristol Bridge, Betsy Ross Bridge, and Commodore Barry Bridge are shut down due to ice. The Tacony Palmyra Bridge was shut down but has reopened.






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Sunday begins with freezing rain before changing over to rain

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Storm system approaching from the South will be impacting our area today. Look for cloudy skies along with some rain and drizzle at times. A bit of freezing rain may affect parts of the area at the start of the precipitation, but the majority of the event will just be rain.


Icy conditions could stay longer in the Poconos but transitions to just rain as temperatures warm to above freezing. Highs today will get into the lower 40s.


By Sunday evening most of the precipitation should be coming to an end as the storm system quickly pulls away. Windy conditions will take over on behind the system on Martin Luther King Day (Monday) causing our highs in the upper 30s to feel much colder despite a mix of sun and clouds.


Today: Periods of rain; some freezing rain possible early this morning. Some icing possible through midday Poconos. High: 42


Tonight: Clouds breaking; breezy. Low: 30


Monday: Windy with sun and some clouds. High: 39 Low: 19






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HOCKEY WRAP: Phantoms, Royals and Flyers all victorious on Saturday

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The Phantoms, Royals and Flyers all took the ice on Saturday. All three came away with wins, with Lehigh Valley the most impressive in a 5-1 victory over Binghamton.


Nick Cousins tallied a hat trick for the Phantoms. Martin Oullette was lights out in net as Lehigh Valley rebounded following a loss at home Friday night. The team will visit Hershey on Sunday.


In Elmira, the Royals rallied from two goals down in the third period to tally a 4-3 shootout win over the Jackals and split the road series.


The two teams will play in Reading Monday afternoon.


The Flyers held off the Sabres in Buffalo, 4-3, on Saturday as well. Philadelphia had lost three of four coming in.






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HOCKEY WRAP: Phantoms, Royals and Flyers all win

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following a 63-44 win over Lafayette.>>> Lacing up the skates...the Phantoms began a three-in-three weekend with a one-goal loss to Albany at home. Lehigh Valley looked to regroup tonight at the ppl Center against one of their East Division rivals..the Binghamton Senators...Phantoms great Bob Clarke in the house for Legends Night...big part of a pair of the franchise's Calder Cups...- 14 seconds in, Andrew Gordon gets the puck off the boards and feeds Nick Cousins, he one-times it past Andrew Hammond, 1-0 Phantoms - Later in the 1st, Brandon Manning fires from the blue line, Zach Stortini redirects in front for his 6th goal of the season, 2-0 Phantoms... -Binghamton got one back late in the 1st...but 33 seconds into the 2nd period, Nick Cousins drops it for Andrew Gordon, Gordon's shot is blocked, but Cousins puts it in net with the rebound, 3-1 Phantoms... -In the 3rd, Senators down 4-1 now, Alex Guptill, who scored Binghamton's goal, with the penalty shot, but Martin Ouellette blocks itCousins would later score the hattrickPhantoms win, 5-1... >>> The Royals wrapped up their two-game weekend series in Elmira tonight...Royals - 4 Elmira - 3In a shootout...Reading rallies from two down in the third to salvage the road split.>>>And the Flyers, go up to wny and get a 4-3 win over the Sabres tonight...they had lost 3






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Martino lifts Slaters over Spartans in league clash

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Mike Martino scored a game-high 20 points, leading Bangor past Southern Lehigh, 55-50, on the road Saturday night in a meeting of Colonial League contenders.


Martino iced the game late with clutch free throws. He got help in the form of 13 points from Anthony Schiavone, who spurred a 9-0 run to start the game.


Michael Zabrecky paced Southern Lehigh with 14 points.


With the win, Bangor remains neck-and-neck with Saucon Valley in the East division. Salisbury holds the edge over the Spartans in the West.






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Martino leads Bangor past Southern Lehigh

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in both wrestling and football this year.>>> On the hardwood, great cross-divisional showdown in the Colonial League tonight...Bangor boys at Southern Lehigh...both teams, in the thick of division title races...- The Slaters opened the game on a 9-0 run...capped off by the three from Anthony Schiavone...part of his 13 point night...Bangor led by 6 after the 1st quarter...- The Spartans turn it up in the 2nd quarter...Lucas Hudson brings it up...the lob for Jacob Cassel and the filthy finish to boot...Cassel had 12 points tonight...that tied the game at 16...it was knotted at 20 at halftime...- But in the 2nd half, it was Mike Martino time...absorbs the contact, bucket, and the foul...Slaters take a 2-point lead...- Then in the 4th, Bangor leading by 5...Martino, hard to the goal...takes a lickin but keeps on tickin...2 of his game-high 20 points... ...Bangor with an impressive road win tonight, 55-50 the






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Phillipsburg wrestling knocks off Easton at The Pit

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The Easton-Phillipsburg football game was an absolute classic this year, with the Stateliners pulling out a thrilling win over the Red Rovers. The rivalry shifted to the wrestling mat on Saturday with the atmosphere just as intense.


In a back-and-forth affair, Phillipsburg prevailed, 30-23, clinching the match late in a thriller.


Easton took a 17-15 lead at 138 pounds when Evan Fidelibus won via major decision.


But P'Burg's Max Elling worked a fall at 160 pounds to give the Stateliners the 24-20 lead. Drew Horun sealed it for Phillipsburg at 182 pounds with a 10-4 decision.


Phillipsburg has defeated Easton in both football and wrestling in dramatic fashion this academic year.






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Phillipsburg tops Easton on the wrestling mat

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highlights, coming up... >>>>>> The Easton-Phillipsburg football game was an absolute classic this year, with the Stateliners pulling out a thrilling win over the Red Rovers. The rivalry shifted to the wrestling mat tonight. The atmosphere, just as intense... ...in the Pit tonight...Phillipsburg hosting the dual...and no surprises, it delivered... - 113 lbs...Easton's Isaiah Roche (Ro-shea) takes down Tom Kosar...Roche wins a major decision 18-9...P'burg still leads 12-7. - 138 lbs...Easton's Evan Fidelibus rolls over dj Wissing for some back points...Fidibus wins a major decision 9-1...Easton jumps ahead 17-15. - 160 lbs...P'Burg's Max Elling works the fall of Ethan DiRenzo in 1:31...P'burg gets back on top 24-20. - 182 lbs...P'Burg's Drew Horun takes down Craig Stahlecker... Horun wins 10-4 to clinch the P'burg victory...Stateliners win it 30-23...so they top






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NCAA RUNDOWN: Lehigh men prevail; Lafayette burned late

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The Lehigh and Lafayette men's basketball teams were home on Saturday afternoon to Patriot League opponents. The Mountain Hawks held off Holy Cross while the Leopards were burned by American with less than a second left.


At Stabler Arena, Lehigh picked up its second conference win of the season, 69-64, over Holy Cross. Tim Kempton led the way for the Mountain Hawks with a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds. Kahron Ross added 13 points and 10 assists.


Lehigh squandered a 20-point lead, but held on down the stretch.


At Kirby Sports Center, PeeWee Gardner's bucket with 0.3 seconds left lifted American past Lafayette, 78-76.


Gardner tallied a team-high 19 points. Dan Trist led all scorers with 25 for the Leopards, who drop to 3-3 in Patriot League play.


Other NCAA scores from Saturday:


Lehigh women def. Holy Cross, 66-60


American women def. Lafayette, 63-44


East Stroudsburg men def. West Chester, 98-74


Kutztown men def. Bloomsburg, 89-85


West Chester women def. East Stroudsburg, 69-63


#21 Bloomsburg women def. Kutztown, 70-57






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NCAA RUNDOWN: Lehigh holds on; Leopards fall in tight one

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first place in the Colonial League's East division...>>> To college hoops...the Lafayette men hosted American today look to win their third straight game. The Leopards, trying to chase down Colgate atop the Patriot League standings......American right there with them near the top of the standings...big game for both as the home stretch approaches...-Early in the 1st half, Lafayette working it around... Bryce Scott drives then kicks it back to Dan Trist for the stuff... he led all scorers with 25 points...2 emphatic ones there... -Later, Lafayette passing it around to Nick Lindner in the near corner... he drives baseline and gets the layup, he finished with 17 points... - Leopards moving without the ball well... Zach Rufer looking for a back door cut... Matt Klinewski responds... he lays it in, part of his 12 points - But American had the answer... Marko Vasic feeds PeeWee Gardner, he dribbles a few steps around the arc and nails the three, he finished with a team high 19 points... ...Gardner ended up hitting the game-winning shot with .3 seconds left to sink Lafayette this afternoon, 78-76...>>> The Lehigh men were also at home today, taking on Holy Cross...the Mountain Hawks, just 1-4 in league play coming in...-Lehigh led by 16 at the break... 2nd half, Mountain Hawks going back to work... Austin Price drives baseline and gets the nice reverse layup to go, part of his 13 points... -Later Lehigh's Kahron Ross...outstanding year for him... looking for an opening, he finds it and takes it to the hole and gets the runner to go... he finished with a double-double 13 points, 10 assists.. -Holy Cross not backing down... the Crusaders slinging the rock around... Mitchell Hahn ends up with it on the wing, he knocks down the three, part of his team high 12 points... - But Lehigh was too much...Ross inside to Tim Kempton, he lays it in... he led all scorers on a double-double day...career-high 26 points, 13 rebounds... The Mountain Hawks let a 20-point lead evaporate, but hold on to win, 69-64..their second league victory. >>> As for the Lehigh and Lafayette women...the Mountain Hawks get it done at Holy Cross today, 66-60, the final.Lehigh, improves its conference mark to 4-2.The team they're chasing, American...remains perfect in league play following a 63-44 win over Lafayette.>>> At the Division ii level, the East Stroudsburg and Kutztown men are on a collision course in the psac East. Both teams won today...The Warriors over West Chester big, 98 to 72, and the Golden Bears, hold off Bloomsburg, 89-85.Should esu take care of Mansfield this week, then first-place in the psac East is on the line next Saturday when esu and ku meet at Keystone Arena.>>> As for the women's teams...tough sledding for both today.The Warrios fall at home to West Chester, 69-63, while the Golden Bears, can't solve nationally-ranked Bloomsburg






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Saucon Valley rolls past Bangor in Colonial League showdown

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Bangor paid a visit to Saucon Valley on Saturday morning in a contest between divisional contenders within the Colonial League. Both teams sported a perfect league record coming in with the winner taking firm control of the East division.


The Panthers pulled away early behind pins from Paul Miller and Dylan Yonney. Sam Scheetz put it away with a pin at 226 pounds as Saucon Valley rolled 49-12.


Bangor's Kaleb Happel worked a pin at 182 pounds, one of three Slaters to win a bout.






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Saucon Valley tops Bangor in Colonial League showdown

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sports. >>> There are a couple of big high school wrestling matches today. Easton and Phillipsburg go at it later tonight. But we start in the Colonial League with Bangor visiting Saucon Valley this morning...Both teams, sporting a perfect league record coming in...winner, takes over sole possession of first place in the East division...- 106 lbs...Saucon Valley's Paul Miller gets the fall of Bangor's Christian Barber in 1:01...6-0 Panthers just like that. - 145 lbs...Saucon's Dylan Yonney (Yohn-ey) takes down Justis Zigubu to get the tech fall in 5:13...Yonney wins 18-3...Saucon Valley wins the first 7 bouts to take a commanding 28-0 lead... - 182 lbs...Bangor's Kaleb Happel gets Nate Kehs (Kays) to roll into a pin in 3:11...Happel, one of only three Slaters to win a bout. - 226 lbs...Saucon Valley putting it away... Sam Scheetz gets the fall of Thomas McKeough (McQue) in 3:44......the Panthers, roll 49-12 to take over sole possession of






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Catholic schools with deep community roots to close in Northampton County

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For several years Pius X Junior/Senior High School in Bangor has been battling decreasing enrollment and rising debt. Since 2011 enrollment has dropped nearly 50 percent and now stands at 165 students in grades seven through 12.


"48 of [students] are seniors and will graduate in June," Director of Communications at the Diocese of Allentown, Matt Kerr said. "The kids in eight, nine, ten and 11 can choose from among the three other Catholic high schools in the Lehigh Valley."


The school expects to end the fiscal year with an operating debt of more than $1,000,000 dollars.


And it is the same story at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Roseto. The school will be closing doors at the end of the school year. The school started the year with 83 students in grades K through 6th, enrollment down 43 percent since 2009. As a result of the elementary school closing, 7th and 8th grades will be added to Immaculate Conception School in Pen Argyl, which currently has 143 students in grades K through 6th.


As a result of both school closures, grants will be made available for families who want to continue their child's education at another school in the Diocese of Allentown. The grants are $2,000 dollars for year one and $1,000 dollars for year two for current Pius X students and $1,000 for year one and $500 for year two for current Our Lady of Mount Carmel students.


Kerr says teachers from both schools will be alerted to openings in other schools within the Diocese of Allentown.






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Hit and run has Northampton County community on edge over safety concerns

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There's a new level of concern among locals living in the Main Street area in Northampton Borough when it comes to kids walking alone.


The intersection of Main and 9th Streets is a busy one, and on Friday, a 10-year-old girl was walking to school at around 8:30 a.m. when police say she was hit by a driver.


Authorities say the woman behind the wheel then fled the scene.


Now locals are calling for more security measures to make sure this type of accident never happens again.


While there are crossing guards near the schools, residents say that it's not enough. They want crossing guards in surrounding areas as well.


" I definitely think that they should," said local resident Caitlin Snyder. "I mean it's further from the school but still, there's kids walking from all over the place."


The school district was not immediately available for comment.


When it comes to Friday's hit-and-run, police are still looking for the woman they say was in the driver's seat.


Authorities say she is in her 30's with blonde or red hair.


It is believed she was driving a Jetta, that would have damage to the front end.


If you have any information, you are asked to call the Northampton Borough Police at 610-261-0404.






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State Police investigate Berks County man's death

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A 67-year-old man was found dead by a friend on the side porch of his Berks County home on Saturday, according to State Police.


Authorities at this time are not saying whether is it a suspicious death.


Investigators and vehicles from the coroner's office remained at a home on Mountain View Road in Upper Tulpehocken Township for the better part of the day.


Police tape cordoned off the home.


"I left this morning at around 11 a.m. and cops came in blaring their horns," said one neighbor. "When I came home, my husband said something went on over there."


Authorities are calling it a death investigation, but are not saying if foul play may be suspected.


Neighbors tell us they rarely saw the man who lived inside of the home.


"He was very quiet," said a neighbor.


Stay with 69 News for the latest on the investigation.






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Taking control of your family's finances

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A new year means new goals and a great time to get your family's finances in order.


It can be rather difficult if you don't know where to start or if you don't know who handles the finances in your family.


Paul Marrella, a wealth manager from Marrella Financial Group in Wyomissing and author of "What Now? A Widow's Guide to Financial Independence" visited the Sunrise show to give us a few tips.


Here's a look!






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Storm moves in second half of the weekend

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Today: Mostly sunny and cold. High: 29


Tonight: Increasing cloudiness. Temperatures rising into the 20s late. Low: 19


Sunday: Cloudy with rain developing by late morning and continuing into the afternoon. Rain may begin as mix in Poconos. High: 40 Low: 30


A cold front moved through the area yesterday, as a result it's a colder start to today with temperatures in the teens. We will see mostly sunny skies today, although temperatures will be kept in the mid and upper 20s. Sunday will be a bit milder.


However Sunday is going to be rather cloudy with some rain and drizzle around (moving in by midday). We are leaving in the potential for some snow at the start and end of the storm system, most of us see just rain. Locations further north and west may see little or no precipitation. The further south and well east will most likely be wetter.


By Martin Luther King Monday, the low pressure system rapidly moves away...however, a few flurries are possible. Monday will be windy with some sunshine and highs in the upper 30s.






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