Quakertown welcomes new council member

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Quakertown Borough has a fresh face on council.


At Wednesday evening's council meeting, Jane Paulovitz took the oath of office and officially began her duties as a councilwoman.


Paulovitz expressed gratitude for the chance to serve the community.


"I am thankful to the borough for the opportunity," she said. "I am also thankful to Quakertown Alive! for their support over the years. And, I also want to thank my husband."


Paulovitz will finish former Councilman Dan Williams' term, who recently resigned.


She currently serves as president of Quakertown Alive!.


She and her family have resided in Quakertown for 38 years.


Also during the meeting, borough police officer Matthew Molchan was formally sworn in as detective.


Molchan was hired by the borough in 1997 and has served in the bicycle unit, as a field officer, K-9 officer and is NRA instructor certified.


Molchan is a graduate of Parkland High School and the Allentown Police Academy.


He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard for a period of four years.


"Congratulations, Matt, we wish you well," council President L. James Roberts said.


In other business, Borough Manager Scott McElree provided an update on the advanced metering infrastructure project and bid recommendation.


According to McElree, the previous company incorrectly bid on the electrical meters, resulting in a $700,000 error.


"We learned at the end of December they made a fatal error in the bid," he said.


The company, McElree said, pulled out of the bid.


Elster is the second company to bid and based on projections, is $250,000 less than the initial bid.


Elster produces fully integrated water meters along with software.


"It's not only less expensive but its capabilities exceed what we are looking for," McElree said.


Council expects to vote on the Elster bid at the March meeting.


Council also bid farewell to Junior Council Member Joy Zheng.


Zheng, who will be moving to Milford Township with her family, completed one year as a junior council member this past September.


She is a senior at Quakertown Community High School.


"We wish you well," Roberts said.


Councilman David Erwin was not present for Wednesday's meeting.






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Trial set for man who allegedly claimed he was attack by Stone

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A Doylestown man charged with calling in a false report during the search for mass killer Bradley Stone is heading to trial.


Luke Sanderlin waived his right to a preliminary hearing today.


Sanderlin was charged with risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment and making false reports to law enforcement during the hunt for Bradley Stone.


Stone killed six people and then himself back in December.


Sanderlin's formal arraignment is scheduled to take place early next month.






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Police warn parents: man targeting children for abduction

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Wyomissing criminal investigators are putting out a warning to parents after a male attempted to lure four children over the last week in Berks County.



"Run, yell and tell," said Daren Anders, a criminal investigator for Wyomissing Police Department.



The first instance was last Tuesday morning in Reading near Millmont Elementary School. There, the young girl told police she was approached by a hispanic male driving a black SUV with dark tinted windows.



Since then, there have been two other attempted lurings in Bern Township and Shillington both matching the same description.



Wyomissing Police have also released this sketch after a hispanic male on foot approached and grabbed a child by the arm in the 800 block of Park Road. The child broke free and got away.



Police and several school districts are reminding students to be alert and observant. They say that means: take your eyes off your cell phone and keep your eyes on your surroundings.



They also tell students to never go with a person you do not know and to be prepared if you are approached.



"Teach them to fight back and not go willingly, make as much commotion as they can if they feel they are being threatened by somebody they do not know," said Anders.



Parents too should be on the look out and if you see someone suspicious try to get a good description of the person and a license plate and immediately report it to police or the school district.



"We just need to keep our kids safe by making them aware and encouraging them to be aware of their surrounds and just be careful," said John Yount, the Director of Safe Schools for Governor Mifflin School District.



Police tell us they have been following up on several leads, but they have not caught this person and are still asking the public to be vigilant.






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Family remembers woman who died in the cold

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According to officials last night's frigid temperatures are to blame for the death an elderly woman in Bernville.



They were as close as two sisters could be until a fierce winter wind changed everything.



Reporter: Arleen Schwartz is still trying to process the fact that her loving sister died trying to get to her house. The coroner says 89-year-old Esther May Luckenbill slipped on a patch of ice Tuesday night and then died from from exposure to the freezing cold. Arleen says her sister was always very active.



Arleen: Oh, yeah, she was always active. She was always doing things.



Stand up: Now Arleen says she used to speak to her sister everyday single day and when she didn't hear from her she knew something was strong.



Arleen: When i came home from the store, and i didn't get no answer, and then i went and i kept calling and calling and didn't get an answer.



Reporter: It turns out Esther couldn't get into her house, so she decided to head to Arleen's place ... Just a few doors down ... Penn Valley Road ... And that's when when she slipped on that nasty patch of ice. When family didn't hear from Esther, they came running ... But it was too late. Moving forward, Arleen prefers to rember the good times.



Reporter: Esther would have turned 90 years old on Valentine's Day. Arleen says it won't be the same without her best friend ... But no amount of cold will ever be able to steal the lifetime of great memories.



Arleen: Oh yes, she was really nice.Yup she was, yup, she was.She was really nice.



Reporter: In Bernville, Dwayne Parker, 69 News.






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Royals edge Nailers for 8th consecutive win

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After sweeing their five game road trip after the All-Star break, the Royals kept on rolling with a 2-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers on Wedneday night at Santander Arena. The Royals have pushed their overall win streak to eight games.


Pat Mullane and Adam Hughesman scored the goals for the Royals. They got 42 saves from Connor Knapp.


Reading did benefit from a disallowed goal in the final 16 seconds that would have tied the game.


The Royals host Florida this weekend in a pivotal three-game series. The Everblades lead the East Division, with the Royals hot on their tails.






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Royals edge Nailers for 8th straight win

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Marquette... >>> The Reading Royals are playing well. They've won 7 straight games and that has them second in their division right now, a really good spot to be in heading towards the postseason. They hoped to add to their winning streak tonight as they returned home






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KU men, women sweep Cheyney as playoff chases narrow

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The Kutztown men's and women's basketball teams swept Cheyney on Wednesday at Keystone Arena. Both Golden Bear teams are jockeying for playoff position.


In the men's game, Kutztown pulled away for an 84-68 win. Josh Johnson dropped 30 points to lead four KU players in double-figures.


The Golden Bears trail East Stroudsburg by one game for first place in the PSAC East.


In the women's game, KU held off a feisty Cheyney team for the 65-60 win.


Alyssa Bonenberger dropped 17 points as the Golden Bears moved into a fourth place tie in the PSAC East at 8-9.






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KU basketball sweeps double-header with Cheyney

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their fourth Super Bowl win. >>> rob vaughn: Here's Troy. >>> The Kutztown men are still chasing a division title in the psac. They still trail East Stroudsburg after losing in 4 overtimes Saturday. That's a tough loss for any team, and a loss the ku men hoped to put behind them tonight. a win over Cheyney is exactly what they needed to get back on track... >>> The ku women played game one of the doubleheader






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Running team empowers young girls in Bethlehem

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The Donegan Dashers is a new running team at Donegan Elementary in Bethlehem.


Every practice, 25 girls on the team hear their teachers and coaches cheering them on.


"I used to think about sad things that happened to me, but then I realized I shouldn't be thinking about those things," Donegan Dasher Melany Gil said. "I realized I should be thinking about what I would like to be when I grow up."


It is a group that's doing a lot more than teaching girls in 3rd 4th and 5th grade the fundamentals of the sport.


"I think that I can do anything," Donegan Dasher, Kendal Cheatum said.

Donegan Elementary School Principal, Sonia Vazquez, saw a need in her school to empower young girls through an athletic outlet.


"I knew if we found a passion for them, something would take," Vazquez said. "Whether it was letting the energy go, or just being part of a group."


She chose accomplished marathon runner and teacher Kathy West to lead the charge, taking the girls from recreational joggers to athletes training for an upcoming 5K.


"She has transformed these girls," Vazquez said. "It is not just the running, it is their entire lives."


Teachers, coaches and students alike have taken note of that transformation.


"We feel independent we feel strong now," Donegan Dasher, Melony Nonnemacher said.


"It makes me feel different than everybody else," Donegan Dasher Aiyana Rivera said. "I am proud to be a Dasher."


West dreams will continue to grow in the years ahead. And with the results she's seen so far, it doesn't seem like keeping the volunteer program running will be too much of a hurdle.






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Lehigh University athletes in trouble after drunken fight

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A trio of key players on Lehigh University's nationally ranked lacrosse program are now off the team and out of the school.



This all comes just days before the team ranked 16th in the nation is set to kick off their 2015 season.



According to Police, Alex Eaton, David "Tripp" Telesco ,and Patrick Corbett were involved in a snowball fight on the 200 block of East Fifth Street in the Bethlehem on January 24. One of the snowballs hit a passing car, the driver stopped, got out, than an argument broke out. Authorities say the driver was then punched several times.



That driver has not been charged.



The three players are being charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness. Lehigh University has since told 69 News that the three players are also no longer enrolled at the University.



Lehigh grad student Janelle Fortunato, was on an athletic team at a small school in South Carolina. She said coaches and administrators oftentimes hold student athletes to an even higher standard of conduct.



"They always expected a lot of us both in the classroom and out in the community. They expected us to act appropriately and how we would be presented to the public," said Fortunato.






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PennDOT proposes plan to finish 8th Street Bridge early

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A major construction project in Allentown could be completed sooner rather than later.


It depends.


At Wednesday's Allentown City Council meeting, PennDOT laid out an informal proposal that would reopen the Eighth Street Bridge within the year, if it was closed completely for construction.


Right now, the bridge only has one lane closed, and isn't scheduled to be completed until sometime in 2016.


No word yet on whether the city plans to take the proposal any further.






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Powerball players feeling lucky

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Many Powerball players are hoping to strike it rich.



Wednesday's Powerball jackpot was $317 million, the largest amount in almost a year. The cash prize was worth $220.6 million.



Stores in the Lehigh Valley were busy selling tickets.



"I'm feeling lucky. If I win then everything, all my debts will be cleared," said Tosh Francis of Whitehall Township. He was among the people buying tickets at Jordan Shell Mini Mart in Whitehall.



"It would be a change, a lifestyle change for the better," he said.



April Taylor of Emmaus said, "I would give $100 million to my kids and then to charity and then myself.



"I would probably buy everybody in my family a house and a new car and then probably try to give something back," said Bob Fortuner of Kempton.



People were also feeling lucky at Lump's Center Street Deli in Bethlehem, which has sold a number of winning lottery tickets in the past.



"We want to make people rich and smile and be happy," said Candy Stoll, whose father owns the store.



She has her own strategy from behind the register.



"I like to put a personal touch so I'll put your favorite number in out of one and 55 and quick pick the rest," she explained.



"I bought two. It only takes one, " said customer Rich Meza of Bethlehem. "I'll take care of the family and friends."



Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.



Wednesday's drawing was at 10:59 p.m.



Pennsylvania has sold 17 jackpot-winning tickets since 2002.






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Liver transplant cures toddler's rare disease

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Three months ago we told you about a little girl from Lancaster County who was in desperate need of a liver transplant.



Now that girl is disease free thanks to a local firefighter's sacrifice.



Donya McCoy calls having liver transplant surgery for her daughter Kennedy a leap of faith.



"I wasn't going to stop until I found a way to help her," added McCoy. "I mean I think any mom in my shoes would have done the same thing."



We first introduced you to the two last November, while Kennedy was suffering from a rare metabolic disorder and in desperate need of a liver transplant.



After a plea by McCoy on Facebook, the surgery took place on November 11, 2014.



Thanks to McCoy's high school friend and Bethlehem firefighter Mike Thompson.



"I tell Donya this all the time, I really didn't play a big part in it, I just played a small part," said Thompson.



"To donate a piece of yourself to save to someone else I don't think humanity gets any better than that," added McCoy.



Kennedy spent two months in the hospital recovering.

A little while longer than Mike.



"I hoped it worked," said Thompson. "That was my biggest concern, making sure it would work."



Work it did.

The high spirited three year old is running around, playing, and is now disease free.



Donya McCoy remembers seeing the email from doctors.



"All the caption said from him in the email message was it worked with like one hundred exclamation points," added McCoy. "So in the middle of children's hospital hallway I immediately broke into tears.

It was just, it's just surreal."



They say with great risk, comes great reward.



"I'm glad I did it, I'm happy I did it, yes I would do it again if the opportunity arose, but I can't," added Thompson.



And for Kennedy a second chance at life.



"I just can't wait to see the woman she grows up to be and what she brings to the world," said McCoy. "Because she's already touching the world and she doesn't even know it."



Kennedy and Mike are still under the care of doctors, but surgeons are calling the procedure a medical breakthrough.






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Gold bars stolen in Carbon County

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Police are asking for the public's help after an unusual crime in Carbon County.


Authorities said six gold bars were stolen from a home on Tamarack Terrace in Penn Forest Township.


Investigators said the theft happened between January 26th and the 29th.


The bars are valued at $15,000 each. Police said cash and a set of keys were also taken.


If you have information about this crime, contact the State Police at Fern Ridge.






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Woman accused of stealing from scouts heading to trial

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A Montgomery County woman charged with stealing from Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts is heading to trial.


Heather Belford is accused of stealing more than $10,000 from two groups based in Upper Providence Township.


Police say she used ATM cards to pocket the cash. Belford was in the courtroom for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, where several charges were held for trial.


She is scheduled to be formally arraigned in April.






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Fire killed one in Norristown

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A fire overnight in Montgomery County has killed one person and injured at least three others.



Wendy davis: WFMZ's Chandi Lowry is here to tell us more. Exactly Rob Aroundand Wendy.. Close to two dozen families are when he coasted to their familieshomeless tonight... And one person is are homeless tonight now one person is dead dead after fire ripped through the building in after fire ripped through theNorristown.



Reporter: buildingFlames tore through this building overnight on Swede Street in Norristown.. Leaving thick black smoke billowing into the air... And one life lost.



TOM o'donnell 15:02:54"Heavy fire and heavy smoke conditions in the building."



REPORTER Norristown Fire Chief Tom O'Donnell says there are close to 30 apartments in the building that's more than a century old.And the flames spread quickly which made it a tough fight.



TOM o'donnell 15:04:30"Crews had their hands full, we had a lot of things to do in a short amount of time, with the hard work of police and firefighters a lot of lives were saved here this morning."



REPORTER:And we have video of some lives being saved.Firefighters climbed up ladders to rescue people from all floors of the burning building.



TOM o'donnell 15:03:17"Initially when fire and police crews arrived we found multiple residents trapped within the building."



REPORTER:The four alarm fire burned out of control for hours.. Leaving several people hurt.. Including a firefighter who suffered a minor hand injury.Another person was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.And another was treated for some type of medical condition. And while those people are recovering.. Structural engineers are looking into how the partially collapsed building can be repaired.



TOM o'donnell: 15:03:23"We had heavy fire conditions on all four levels from the basement all the way up to the floor five."



REPORTER:And the people who have no where to go.. Are leaning on others for help.



SOT:15:41:10"We're putting up the shelter at norristown high school, we have mental health care there medical teams, specialty care." The person wh anywher was killed had & Now the personbeen rescued and who was killed had been rescued and taken to the hospital... But died a short time later. Taken to the hospital but Firefighters say the fire started in the basement area. Back to you. Died a short time later firefighters say the fire started in the basement area backing rather.






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Serial robber targeting Bucks County

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The search is on for a serial burglar in Bucks County.



Police said a thief is hitting homes and stealing jewelry during the morning and early afternoon hours of the day.



One community in particular seems to have been hit the hardest.



Since early Fall, police in Hilltown Township claim nearly 10 homes have been broken into.



The thief, police said, is forcing his or her way into the home with a crow bar, going into the master bedroom, and concentrating on jewelry.



"The subject is going into the master bedroom, taking whatever jewelry he can, and taking it by pillow case, bedspread, or dresser drawer," said Chief Christopher Engelhart, Hilltown Township Police.



Though the thief is concentrating mostly on jewelry, Engelhart said two firearms have also been reported stolen.



Most of the homes that were targeted did not have alarm systems, Engelhart said. Police said evidence so far indicates the thief is acting alone.



The most recent incident within the township was reported January 29th.



Police said a man, believed to be in his 40s or 50s, approached a township resident asking for directions to Route 611 in Doylestown.



But, the man described as having olive skin, got into a beige colored Honda sedan and drove off into the wrong direction.



A burglary was reported a few hours later about a mile away, police said.



Police could not provide an estimate on the total worth of the jewelry reported missing.



But, investigators have reached out to local pawn shops to be on the lookout.



They're also working with other departments in the area, after similar incidents were reported in Doylestown, Buckingham, Solebury, and Plumstead.



Central Bucks Regional Police Chief James Donnelly said officers responded to a reported burglary on January 24th.



A home on Forest Drive in Doylestown had been raided while the family was away for the weekend.



"They came home and found their front door open. And then they found about $13,000 worth of jewelry missing," Donnelly said.



Prescription drugs were also taken in the incident, Donnelly said.



The family had accidentally left the front door unlocked, according to Donnelly.



Police said there is also a chance other communities in Montgomery County and beyond were also hit, but would not elaborate beyond that.



Anyone with knowledge on any of the incidents, or suspicious of any activity, should contact their local police department.






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Allentown schools launch dropout prevention program

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A new program in the Allentown School District is taking aim at dropouts..


The initiative, implemented in partnership with Communities in Schools, Lehigh Valley, kicked off this week at Allen and Dieruff high schools.


The nationwide organization has worked with the ASD for the past 25 years in providing support to students who need it most, via after school programming and alternative education.


This week, CIS kicked off a program called "Graduate Allentown," in which workers will work one-on-one with at-risk students, along with connecting students and, if needed, their families, to appropriate resources.


"A lot of times, these students need all kinds of support, academic and non-academic. Sometimes, there's a home situation that we can be of help. It might be housing, it might be an employment issue, it might be just a student who doesn't have the kind of stability,” said Timothy Mulligan, president and CEO of CISLV.


Mulligan added he and district officials are thinking of adding a second phase to the program, which would focus on re-engaging kids who've already dropped out of high school.


"Right now, we're working on preventative measures, the kids who are still in school but struggling, but we also have visions of working with the kids who have already dropped out and bringing them back," he said.


Just last year, Mulligan said CIS implemented a similar program at Easton Area High School, where all 22 at-risk seniors they worked with graduated.


"Our success is because we create those caring one-to-one relationship with these kids and we tell them we believe in them, and you can do this and we're going to be there to support you," he said.






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Report of man with gun puts 3 Reading schools on lockdown

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The Reading School District didn't let anyone in or out of three schools after the report of a man walking with a gun.


Police said they were told about a man with a gun around Northeast Middle School on North 13th Street on Wednesday afternoon.


Northeast and 12th and Marion and 13th and Union elementary schools were all put on a precautionary lockout.


Dismissals were delayed at the schools.


There's no word on the identity of the man with the gun.






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