Palmer Police Arrest Teen Waving a toy Gun

After motorists made complaints about a carload of people waving a gun, Palmer Police charge a Bethlehem teen with marijuana possession.

  A prank featuring a realistic toy gun along the side of a Palmer Township road on Saturday helped to land a Bethlehem teenager in jail on drug charges, according to court records. Palmer Township police responded to Stone Crossing Road and Fleetwood Drive after 4:30 pm on reports that four passengers of a car in that area were waving a black gun at cars as they drove by, court papers said. When police arrived, they found four teenagers in a black Volvo hatchback and their toy weapon. Three of the occupants were minors, but one, John Christopher Hernandez, 18, of 1947 Hillcrest Road on Bethlehem’s West Side, is not. And when he was searched, police found that he was allegedly carrying a small plastic baggie of marijuana, which he admitted…

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Police Blotter

Third Suspect Caught in Palmer Check Cashing Scheme

An Easton man is accused of counterfeiting checks from a Palmer Township company, Magnetic Windings Co. Inc..

  A third person – this one possibly a key player – has been charged in a counterfeit checks scheme involving Magnetic Windings Co. Inc. of Palmer Township, 19 phony payroll checks worth more than $13,000 and at least eight people cashing the checks. None of the check cashers appear to be company employees. The latest suspect, Alexander Cedano, 42, of Easton was implicated by a man charged earlier this month. The man said he saw Cedano making checks “in the past” and that Cedano told him he would obtain bank numbers for the checks from a Magnetic Windings employee, according to court records. The checks carried the phony business name of "Inspiron" and a phony address in Freemansburg – 1722 Reese Drive (Magnetic Windings is on Freemansburg…

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Giant Supermarkets now Fill Pet Prescriptions

Customers can now have pet prescriptions filled at the local Giant.

Giant Food Stores and PetCareRx, an accredited pet pharmacy, have formed a new partnership, according to an announcement Friday. This partnership will allow customers to fill their pet presciptions at any Giant pharmacy, in cluding the ones in Palmer and Forks. More than 60 percent of Giant customers have at least one dog or cat in their household, according to a press release. “We are excited to offer this new and convenient option for our customers who are also pet owners,” said Leigh Shirley, director of pharmacy operations. “In addition to offering a variety of pet food products, customers can complete all of their pets’ shopping needs with one stop at our stores.” Currently 40 percent of vet prescriptions can already be filled at …

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Road Work

PennDOT Road Work Starting May 14

Plan your commute.

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Plea Deal Rejected for Palmer Township Bookkeeper

Judge does not accept prison terms for Teri Romanishan, who pleaded guilty to embezzling $221,000 from Magnetic Windings in Palmer Township.

  The sentencing of the former bookkeeper at a Palmer Township business will be rescheduled after the judge rejected a plea deal of one to two years in prison. Teri Romanishan, a former employee of Magnetic Windings Co. on Freemansburg Avenue, appeared before Judge Stephen Baratta in Northampton County Court Tuesday. Prosecutors and her defense attorney had negotiated the plea deal that would put Romanishan in prison for up to two years for taking more than $221,000 from her former employer. "The judge didn't accept the plea offer," said Assistant District Attorney Constance Nelson, who supported the plea bargain. "After an hour-and-a-half (in court), we're still in the same position." That position is Romanishan's sentencing. Romanishan, …

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Patch 101: Follow These Steps to Add Calendar Events

Want to promote your yard sale or invite the community to the church choir concert? Add it to the free calendar.

Part of Palmer-Forks Patch is our events calendar. We add upcoming events as we hear about them, but we don't know about everything going on in the community. So we need your help. If your church is having its annual picnic, let us know. If your son's soccer team is holding a fundraiser to raise money for new uniforms, tell us where to go to help. There's room for bake sales, yard sales, school events, concerts, lectures, government meetings, fairs and more in our calendar. This is how: Follow these steps to learn how to add your event, and help us fill our calendar. Now the whole Patch community will know about your event, and we might even feature it on the homepage. If you have any questions/problems, e-mail me at jerry.brahm@patch.com.

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Truck Stops banned at Route 33 Interchange

Palmer Township Planners discuss the zoning map in preparation for the future development around the Route 33 interchange project.

  Palmer Township officials continue to plan the 689 undeveloped acres around the proposed Route 33 interchange at Tatamy Road. “This is exciting for the township,” said Richard Wilkins, board chairman. “There are no new homes or kids to be enrolled in schools, just business development.” On Tuesday night, Palmer Planners discussed exactly what that development could be, and decided to exclude truck stops as a possible use of the land. They also discussed if allowing nightclubs would also mean they would have to allow adult entertainment such as a gentlemen's club, but that would not be allowed in the zoning either. This development, if it occurs, will bring in tax dollars to the township. For that reason, the Palmer Planning Commission …

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Road Work

PennDOT Road Work Starting March 12

Plan your commute.

Palmer Road: Eighth Street/Tatamy Road between Broad Street and Newlins Road Type of Work: Pothole Patching Restriction: Lane restriction with flagging. Date: March 12 to March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Forks Road: Frost Hollow Road bewtween Richmond Road and Delaware Drive Type of Work: Pothole ptching Restriction: Lane restriction with flagging. Date: March 15 to March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Easton Road: Iron Street between Freemansburg Avenue and 3rd Street Type of Work: Pothole ptching Restriction: Lane restriction with flagging. Date: March 15 to Mach 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Bethlehem Township Road: Freemansburg Avenue between Willow Park Road and Wagner Drive Type of Work: Drainage Restriction: Lane restriction with flagging. Date: March 14 …

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Police Blotter

72-year-old Palmer man Struck by Car and Dies

William Schweikert of the 1343 block of Camelot Drive, was jogging and hit by a car when trying to cross Greenwood Avenue.

William Schweikert, 72, of the 1343 block of Camelot Drive in Palmer Township died today of injuries suffered Wednesday when hit by a car, according to the coroner's report. The accident happened at 2:13 p.m. in the 600 block of Greenwood Avenue. Schweikert was jogging on the bike path when he attempted to cross the street and was hit by a car driven by Micah Richter, 32, also of Palmer, The Express-Times reports. Schweikert was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill, and was pronounced dead at 11:46 a.m. today. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office ruled the death an accident. Palmer police continue to investigate the accident. No charges have been filed.

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