DA plans charges against former police officer

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The Lehigh County district attorney plans to announce charges against a former police officer.


Jim Martin will have a news conference Monday at 2 p.m. at the Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.


There's no further information on the name of the former officer or the details of the charges.


Martin will also address charges in a homicide case.


Refresh this page for the latest information and tune into 69News beginning at 4 p.m.






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I-78 traffic stop yields heroin, cocaine, money; 2 men arrested

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A traffic stop on Interstate 78 in Berks County led to the arrests of two New York men following the discovery of heroin, cocaine and money.


A state police trooper initially stopped a Dodge Durango on Saturday for driving two miles in the left lane of I-78 in Bethel Township, while the right lane remained unoccupied, according to court documents.


The vehicle's driver, Tivon Rice, and his passenger, Daryl Winfree, told the trooper they were on their way from the Bronx, New York, to a friend's home in Charlotte, North Carolina.


A check of both men's records revealed that Rice had a prior drug and weapons charges, police said.


The trooper was granted permission to search the vehicle, which led him to find 221.7 grams of heroin and 331.3 grams of cocaine, according to court documents. Rice also had $380 in his pockets, according to court documents.


Rice, 32, of the Bronx, and Winfree, 33, of Burlingham, New York, were each charged with three different drug counts and committed to the Berks County Jail on $50,000 bail.






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Pedestrian killed in Airport Road hit-and-run identified

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A 62-year-old Allentown woman was killed Sunday night in a hit-and-run accident in Lehigh County, police said.


The accident happened around 9 p.m. as Anna Lewis and 51-year-old Rosalie Carlo of Brooklyn, N.Y., were walking south on the east shoulder of Airport Road in Hanover Township.


Lewis was killed in the crash.


Police said a car driven by 33-year-old Jose Santiago of Allentown hit the women, then fled the scene traveling north on Airport Road. Witnesses said the car turned right onto Catasauqua Road.


Police located the car in the 1800 block of Cloverdale Road in Bethlehem and Santiago was found nearby.


Police said the car had damage consistent with hitting a pedestrian.


Santiago was charge with accident involving death or personal injury.


He was sent to Lehigh County Jail under $275,000 bail.


Anyone with information is asked to call state police at the Bethehem barracks at 610-861-2026.






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Firefighters rescue unconscious resident from burning home in Exeter

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Firefighters are being credited for saving the life of a person trapped inside a burning home.


Crews were dispatched at approximately 7:45 a.m. Monday to a reported fire with possible entrapment at 218 Grande Valley Rd. in Exeter Township.


The first crews on the scene found a fire in the kitchen and heavy smoke billowing from the rear of the home.


Once inside, they found the resident unconscious on the kitchen floor. The victim was rushed to Reading Hospital, but officials had no information about the person's condition or identity.


"I cannot say enough of how proud I am of the firefighters' quick response and their actions," said Chief Robert F. Jordan, Exeter Township Fire Department. "Fire responses and rescues like this one today is why we train so hard."


The Exeter Township fire marshal's office is working to find the cause of the fire.


Firefighters from Lower Alsace, Mount Penn, Reading and West Reading also responded to the scene.






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Music Monday: The Celtic Rebels Band

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American by birth, Irish by heritage, Jimmy Farrell has been playing Irish Folk music in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area for more than 30 years.



Monday morning, Jimmy and his group, The Celtic Rebels Band, stopped by 69 News at Sunrise to help us get the St. Patrick's Day celebration started a little early.


Click the video link attached to this story to hear the band perform LIVE.






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Sunrise team gets spooked for Friday the 13th

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Friday, of course, was Friday the 13th, so we observed the day with a little "magic" on 69 News at Sunrise.



Professional Magician and Mentalist Ari Felber, from Lansdale, stopped by the studio to see if he could spook our Sunrise team.



Click the video link attached to this story to find out the answer!






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Maryland man charged in woman's stabbing death

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A body found in Lehigh County early Sunday is now a homicide investigation and a Maryland man has been arrested.


According to court documents, police were sent around 4:15 a.m. to check out a suspicious vehicle parked in the 5700 block of Haasdahl Road in Upper Macungie Township. The car apparently looked to have a large volume of blood inside.


When officers arrived at the scene, the vehicle was gone, but officers noticed "a ground disturbance" with loosely packed dirt and snow where the car had been.


Just before 6 a.m., police determined that a body was buried at that site.


South Whitehall officers found the vehicle in the area of Applewood and Huckleberry roads. The car had been driven off the road and partially into a pond.


The Ford Freestyle did appear to have a large volume of blood inside and was registered to David Silvonek of the 1500 block of Randi Lane, officials said.


When police arrived at the Silvonek residence, they found David Silvonek, a 14-year-old girl and 20-year-old Caleb Barnes, of Fort Meade, Maryland.


Police discovered Barnes in an upstairs bedroom with the teenager, and she told police she and Barnes had sex twice in the previous 24 hours.


During a police interview, Barnes said he stabbed Cheryl Silvonek in the neck, causing her death.


He said the stabbing took place in the Ford while it was parked in the driveway of the Randi Lane house, court documents say.


Barnes said he drove the dead woman in the Ford to the Haasdahl Road location to dispose of the body, and the teen girl went along, officials said.


Barnes buried the body along Haasdahl Road, then Barnes and the girl walked back to the house on Randi Lane.


The Lehigh County coroner's office confirmed that Cheryl Silvonek died of multiple stab wounds to the neck. Her death was ruled a homicide.


Barnes was charged with criminal homicide, statutory sexual assault, and abuse of corpse.






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Holocaust survivors honored at JCC

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People gathered in Allentown Sunday night to honor some survivors of the Holocaust.


The event was held at the Jewish Community Center. at 722 N. 22nd St.


Several people, including local and state leaders, gathered there to mark 70 years since the end of World War II.


The program was called "From Darkness to Light."


Those honored said they feel happy just to be here.


"We are the people who have continued Judaism, and have continued our traditions and our culture. And in spite of everything that happened to us, we decided to continue what we were doing and instill it into our families," said Regina Brenner.


Congregation Sons of Israel will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Holocaust Resource Center of the Lehigh Valley.






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Berks restaurant marks 5 yrs by giving back to community

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A restaurant in Berks County is celebrating its five year anniversary by giving back.



Klinger's Restaurant at 721 Carsonia Avenue in Mount Penn turned five Sunday.


To celebrate, it's been participating in a five-day donation drive for local charities.


It will run through Tuesday at the restaurant, and while you're there you can also hear some entertainment, along with food and drink specials.


The restaurant is helping Relay for Life, Blankets of Hope in Berks, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.






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Holocaust victims honored

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these new drugs. >>>>>> eve tannery: People gathered in Allentown last night to honor some survivors of the Holocaust. The event was held at the Jewish Community Center. Several people, including local and state leaders, gathered there to mark 70 years since the end of World War ii. The program was called "From Darkness to Light." Those honored say they feel happy just to be here.>>REGINA brenner, Holocaust Survivor, who have continued Judaism, and have continued our traditions and our culture.. and in spite of everything that happened to us, we decided to continue what we were doing and instill it into our families." >> eve tannery: Sons of Israel will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Holocaust Resource Center of






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Philadelphia man dies after tree falls on him on Appalachian Trail

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Authorities say a Philadelphia man has died after a large tree fell on him on the Appalachian Trail in Maryland.


The National Park Service identified the man Sunday afternoon as 36-year-old Jason Parish.


The park service says a person called police shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday to report the accident. Park service spokeswoman Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles says an off-duty park service ranger who was nearby performed CPR on the man. But life-saving efforts were unsuccessful and a Maryland state medical examiner pronounced Parish dead at the scene.


Anzelmo-Sarles says the accident occurred about 7 miles from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on a steep and rocky section of the trail near the Ed Garvey shelter.


She says Parish was hiking with two other people.






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Pa. faces highest spending gap between rich, poor school districts

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The nation's highest ranking education official is singling out Pennsylvania for having the largest spending gap between rich and poor school districts in the country.


That is according to new data highlighted by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan from the National Center for Education Statistics.


The data shows that in Pennsylvania the spending gap is 33 percent, much higher than the next closest state, Vermont, with a spending gap of 18 percent.


To address challenges with education funding, Governor Tom Wolf has previously proposed to boost the state's share of public school costs to 50 percent, up from one-third.


It is a solution Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy says will be a step in the right direction.


"The over-reliance on property taxes, local property taxes, to fund public schools automatically puts wealthier districts with higher property values at an advantage," Roy said.


But a key group of Republican lawmakers instead want to see state sales and income taxes increase, with the long term goal of abolishing school property taxes statewide.

Some Republicans say Wolf's plan to replace only a portion of school property tax collection is not enough to address the problem.

"It really looks to me like bait and switch," said Pa. Sen. David Argall, a Republican who represents Berks and Schuylkill counties. "He is suggesting a permanent increase in income, a permanent increase in sales taxes and a temporary decrease in school district property taxes."

Representative Mike Schlossberg, a Democrat from Lehigh County, supports the Governor Wolf's proposal and says the ideas proposed by the Republicans will not create the funding that is needed.

"I think we all want to eliminate the property taxes in general," Representative Schlossberg said. "The issue with that plan is it leaves us short."

The U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the gap must change.






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Pa spending gap highest in education

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re-ignited the interest of law enforcement. >>> jaciel cordoba: Pennsylvania is being singled out for having the largest spending gap in the country.. between the rich and poor school districts. >> eve tannery: WFMZ's Keleigh Gibbs talked about the issue with the state education secretary... and some local legislators. >>reporter The nation's highest ranking education official.. u.s. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.. is singling out Pennsylvania for having the largest spending gap between rich and poor school districts in the country. The data from the National Center for Education Statistics... shows that in Pennsylvania the spending gap is 33 percent....much higher than the next closest state... Vermont which had a spending gap of 18 percent. To address challenges with education funding....Governor Tom Wolf previously has proposed to boost the state's share of public school costs to 50 percent, up from one-third. a solution....Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy says will be a step in the right direction. "The over reliance on property taxes, local property taxes, to fund public schools automatically puts wealthier districts with higher property values at an advantage." >>reporter But a key group of Republican lawmakers disagrees. Instead they want to see state sales and income taxes increase with the long term goal of abolishing school property taxes statewide. >>argall "It really looks to me like bait and switch. He is suggesting a permanent increase in income, a permanent increase in sales taxes and a temporary decrease in school district property taxes.">>REPORTER Representative Mike Schlossberg a Democrat from Lehigh County supports the Governor Wolf's proposal and says the ideas proposed by the Republicans will not create the funding that is needed. 13:02:50 "Eliminating the property tax is one thing but you've really got to spike, i mean significantly spike the sales and the income tax in order to get it done and i don't think Senate Bill or House Bill 76 goes enough to get education the money that it really needs.">>REPORTER The u-s Education Secretary says the gap must change. Keleigh Gibbs, 69 News. >>> jaciel cordoba: Some people want to make changes to money that it really needs." Education Secretary says the gap must change. Keleigh






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Forklift fire forces evacuation at Home Depot

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A forklift caught fire at a Home Depot store in Montgomery County and shoppers had to be evacuated.



It happened late Sunday afternoon at the store located at 295 Armand Hammer Blvd. in Lower Pottsgrove Township.


Firefighters arrived to find a forklift in flames.


Luckily crews were able to remove a propane tank from the burning piece of equipment before any explosions.


The store was shut down for about an hour.


The fire marshal said there was an issue with the wiring in the forklift, causing the fire.


No one was hurt.






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Forklift catches fire at Home Depot

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investigating.>>> eve tannery: a forklift caught fire at a Home Depot store in Montgomery County.. causing an evacuation. It happened late yesterday afternoon at the store in Lower Pottsgrove Township. Firefighters arrived to find a forklift in flames. Luckily.. they were able to remove a propane tank from the burning piece of equipment before any explosions. The store was shut down for about an hour. The Fire Marshal said there was an issue with the wiring in the






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Life Lessons: Brain health

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our 8 o'clock hour. >>> jaciel cordoba: Most of us think about keeping our bodies healthybut what about our brains? >> eve tannery: As WFMZs Nancy Werteen tells us in Life Lessons, experts say its something to think about. >>Nancy: New research says people over 50 are more worried about their ability to stay mentally sharp than they are about other things like retirement savings and health care expenses. So now theres a national campaign taking place in your local area agency on aging to help people find information about how to keep their minds in tip top shape. >>Nat Sound: 10:46:24 "Lift your shoulder 1 at a time, the other shoulder" (Can we hear some music "you make m feel so young))>>Nancy: 82 year old Rose Sheptock of Center Valley says she wants to feel young so she comes to this exercise class twice a week at the Coopersburg Senior Center.>>Rose Sheptock/ Active Adult:10:38:16 It's just something you have to do to keep your mind active. i am an active person and i don't want to stop being active. 10:38:24 >>Nancy: Experts say exercise is one of the cornerstones of healthy aging. It's part of new national recommendations from your local area agency on aging on how to keep your brain as healthy as your body. >>Judith Stanczak, rn msn, Deputy Administrator iii Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services : 10:17:30 We never stop learning and if we do keep our minds active, we eat a healthy diet, we exercise, these are all things that can promote our brain health. 10:17:40>>Nancy: But this isn't news to folks who work with older adults. >>Terri Unger-Gisolfi/ Certified exercise instructor: 10:29:07 so that when you're doing things that are involving rhythm, strategy and patterning, that's going to make your brain come alive a little bit . They're actually learning activities and then add the music component, it's like learning a new dance. 10:29:18>>Nancy: What else can you do to keep your brain healthy?Eat Right Use alcohol moderately Manage your medical conditions Try mentally stimulating games Volunteer SocializeGet moving. >>Judith Stanczak, rn msn, Deputy Administrator iii Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services : 10:20:06 it's really about staying active, reading, anything that stimulates your mind that you enjoy and want to do on a daily basis. 10:20:18 >>Terri Unger-Gisolfi/ Certified exercise instructor: 10:29:32 it's not that you need to do this structured one hour a day, you can do 10 minutes when you wake up, 10 minutes in the afternoon. . 10:29:41 >>Rose Sheptock/ Active Adult: 10:26:22 She keeps us moving and she always says "move it or loose it" >>Nancy: And certainly reach out to your local area agency on aging if you need any other ideas or even some






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Weekly Roadwork - Bucks-Montgomery-Chester-Delaware

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Information provided by PennDOT



3/16/15



BUCKS COUNTY



Nothing so far for this week

_________________________________________________________

MONTGOMERY COUNTY



U.S. 1 (City Avenue) will be resurfaced between the Delaware County line and Haverford Avenue in Haverford Township, Delaware County, and Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, on Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.



Motorists will face daytime single lane closures while crews repair and resurface the deteriorated section of U.S. 1 (City Avenue).

________________________________________________________

CHESTER COUNTY



Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures when traveling on Route 100 (Pottstown Pike) between Shoen Road and Welsh Pool Road in Uwchlan and West Whiteland townships, Chester County, on Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for road widening.

________________________________________________________

DELAWARE COUNTY


U.S. 1 (City Avenue) will be resurfaced between the Delaware County line and Haverford Avenue in Haverford Township, Delaware County, and Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, on Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.



Motorists will face daytime single lane closures while crews repair and resurface the deteriorated section of U.S. 1 (City Avenue).






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Tractor trailer jackknifes into Berks house

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Some residents of a home in Berks County got an unexpected wake up call Monday morning.


Officials said a tractor trailer jackknifed into a home and pole on West Philadelphia Avenue near Water Street in Earl Township.


It happened around 6 a.m.


There's no word if there were any injuries.


It's not clear what caused the truck to jackknifed.






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Mild today with sun through high clouds

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We begin the new work and school week on a much milder note with afternoon high temperatures topping out in the upper 50s.


We will see some sunshine through high clouds. Clouds will increase tonight and there can be a spotty shower toward dawn on Tuesday.


A couple of showers will be around Tuesday morning, then clouds will break for some sunshine on St. Patrick's Day afternoon, along with a gusty wind.


Temperatures will reach the lower and middle 50s by midday/early afternoon, then temperatures will fall into the 40s.


Wednesday will be blustery and chilly with highs in the middle 30s.


Today: Mild with some sunshine through high clouds. High: 57


Tonight: Turning out mostly cloudy with a spotty shower late. Low: 38


Tuesday: A shower or two during the morning; windy with clouds breaking for some sunshine (temperatures fall PM). High: 53 Low: 24






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