Parkland News

Ryan Eldredge, regional manager of public relations for Dorney Park and other Six Flags Entertainment Corp. properties, said operators continue to focus on refreshing and enhancing attractions.

Parkland School Board plans to vote Monday to join a court battle to decide whether a 501,000-square-foot warehouse will take shape in North Whitehall Township.

Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, said Six Flags, which merged with Cedar Fair last year to become Dorney Park’s parent company, is sitting on roughly $5.5 billion in debt after a season marked by bad weather, rising costs and attendance declines.

A Lehigh County judge will soon decide whether to throw out potentially key evidence in the prosecution of a former Parkland High School administrator.

Parkland High School teachers reported suspected misconduct by ex-performing arts administrator Frank Anonia more than a decade before his arrest on charges of secretly recording a student in a dressing room, a former teacher testified. Anonia is due in court for a criminal trial this week.

South Whitehall Police Department's K-9, Drax, is retiring from the force after seven years of service, and taking up the easy life with his longtime work partner and handler.

South Whitehall Township commissioners passed the Kline's Island Sewer System Act 537 Plan at their Wednesday meeting, setting in motion a multiyear project to help manage the treatment plant's capacity. It serves numerous municipalities.

South Whitehall Township's board of commissioners received an update on the Nestlé Purina water line project, which is progressing at a steady pace, even if concerns over the cost to tie into the line remain.

Parkland School District is on track to award contracts in October and December for major additions to Parkland High School, district officials said Tuesday.

Cupid Foundations Inc. opened its design studio, CupidIntimates, on West Lehigh Street in Bethlehem in 1987. It's still designing original shapewear that it manufactures and sells in department stores and other national retailers.

WLVR's Brad Klein spoke with Parkland area reporter Olivia Marble about the issues at play and the atmosphere at the meeting as residents spoke on a proposed recovery house near Cetronia Elementary.

Some spoke about the need for recovery houses, and others spoke about the potential harm it could bring to the children.

South Whitehall Township officials and North Whitehall residents were concerned about a section of the southern part of the township that is marked for industrial development in the plan’s potential future land map.

South Whitehall residents will likely be able to comment on the proposed recovery house next to Cetronia Elementary at Thursday's hearing. LehighValleyNews.com was invited into a recovery house ahead of the hearing.

North Whitehall staff will begin a trial period of a 9-hour 4-day week on Feb. 20. The municipal office will be closed on Fridays during the trial.

Concerts on the Grange, a two-day music festival featuring tribute acts portraying Elton John, Billy Joel, The Doors and The Grateful Dead, will be May 12-13.

Renovations to the North Whitehall Township municipal building could cost $4.9 million, according to initial plans for the project.

ArtsQuest, the organization that annually presents Musikfest in Bethlehem, has announced it will offer a music festival and other events in Upper Macungie Township this summer.

Upper Macungie Township supervisors granted preliminary approval to a land development plan for three warehouses at 7201 Hamilton Blvd.

South Whitehall commissioners unanimously appointed Capt. Stephen Brown and Lt. Eric Dotter at their meeting Wednesday.

The witnesses spoke about the operations of recovery houses and the proximity to the elementary school.

Chris Herren will speak to students during the school day then host a free presentation for families at 6:30 p.m. Thursday