AAA: Spring Gas Prices Lowest in 3 Years

Find the cheapest gas in Palmer and Forks townships.

March has seen a steady decline in gas prices to the point that gas is cheaper now than last year. AAA continues to predict that the national average will crest lower than in recent years and as we head deeper into spring, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. In 2011, the national average for regular unleaded peaked at $3.98 on May 5. In 2012 the price peaked at $3.94 on April 5. The national average this week is $3.658 for a gallon, down 3.4 cents from last week. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price of self-serve gasoline is $3.638 per gallon, 2.3 cents lower than a week ago, 12.1 cents lower than a month ago and 19.4 cents lower than a year ago. The Pennsylvania average retail price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline is $3.…

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Gas Prices Drop for the Second Week

Find the cheapest gas in Palmer and Forks Townships.

The national average for a gallon of gas has dropped 9 cents to begin March, which is opposite of what motorists are used to, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. The price increased by 6 cents last year at this time and by 17 cents in 2011. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price of self-serve gasoline is $3.685 per gallon, 4.2 cents lower than a week ago, 2.5 cents lower than a month ago and 5.9 cents lower than a year ago. This was the second week in a row to see a decline. It is too soon to say whether retail prices have peaked for the spring, because there is still refinery maintenance to be completed, and much of the country must still transition to summer-blend gasoline, the report states. Yet even if prices do increase, AAA …

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Your Palmer/Forks Super Bowl Guide

The Super Bowl -- one of the biggest annual events on television takes place Sunday. Find out where to get ready for it in Palmer and Forks Townships.

It's the biggest sporting event of the year. Super Bowl Sunday is near and there's still plenty of time to plan your Super Bowl party or find a place to watch the game in Palmer and Forks Townships. Kickoff for the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The game, airing from New Orleans on CBS, will include all those new wonderful advertisements -- a show in itself -- and a usually memorable halftime show. This year it's Beyonce, who follows in the grand tradition of past acts Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. The best spot to watch the game in Forks Township is Big Woody's, …

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Forks Finally Catches Suspect -- After a Year

Former Weis Markets employee suspected of slugging co-worker in Forks Township.

It took more than a year, but Forks Township police have caught up with a former Weis Markets employee suspected of slugging a fellow employee, apparently because he thought the employee squealed on him. A criminal complaint says James Frankenfield Jr., 52, was shopping at the supermarket at Sullivan Trail and Uhler Road the night of Dec. 8, 2011 when he punched a store worker on the right side of his face. The victim said Frankenfield “had been recently suspended” from the store and may have been mad at him because he thought the victim had reported him to the store manager. The victim said he was sweeping the floor of the store’s beer café area when Frankenfield “quietly walked behind” him and delivered the punch, which was captured on …

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Wal-Mart Worker Admits to Theft

After theft at Forks Township Weis Markets, another reported at Wal-Mart in Bethlehem Township.

In the second such case to come to light this week, a store worker has admitted to stealing from her employer. The latest case involves an Allentown woman who admitted stealing on two occasions during overnight hours this past summer from the Wal-Mart in Bethlehem Township before taking a medical leave of absence. Laura Hazel Stewart, 49, told police she stole a total of $424 “because of health issues and [she] knew she would need it for her medical leave of absence,” court records say. A criminal complaint filed by township Patrolman William Stanton also says: While working at the Wal-Mart at 3926 Nazareth Pike, Stewart stole $128 from a register on Aug. 25 and $296 on Sept. 13, the records say. Both incidents were captured on …

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Police: Cashier Stole $300 from Forks Weis Market

Wilson woman arraigned on charges of theft; said she needed to pay rent, court records state.

A Weis Markets cashier at the Forks Township store allegedly stole $300 because she needed money to pay her rent, court records say. The alleged action of Donna M. Arace, 27, of 1715 A Butler St., Wilson, was caught on surveillance video the afternoon of Nov. 5, court records say. A Weis loss-prevention manager told police the video shows Arace cashing out $300 from her register – number 105 – and handing it over to a front-end manager. From there, the front-end manager placed the money in a “sweep bag,” which is used for the collection of excess money from registers. The “sweep bag” was inside a black binder. The manager left the binder at register number 106. The loss-prevention official said Arace placed the binder at her register and …

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Forks/Palmer Stores Selling Out of Twinkies

Local stores are selling out of Hostess products and a box of Twinkies is going for $200,000 on eBay. There's even a petition to 'Nationalize the Twinkie' industry. Hostess announced Friday it will close.

The same day Hostess Brand Inc. announced it will close, someone came in and bought all the Twinkies from the Village West Giant Food Store in South Whitehall. That scene is repeating itself at Giant Food Stores and Weis Markets in Palmer and Forks townships as people buy up all the sweet treats. Hostess Brand Inc. announced Friday it filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court asking permission to close and sell assets - including its iconic brands and facilities.  Giant Store Manager Jeff Pierpoint said people came in after the announcement and "bought all the Twinkies." As of noon Nov. 17 there were still some other varieties available. Everything, however, was gone from the Weis Markets on Route 873 in North Whitehall, according to …

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PPL Offering Free Water, Ice to Those Without Power

Customers of PPL Electric Utilities who are still experiencing a power outage due to Hurricane Sandy may receive up to three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water daily.

Customers of PPL Electric Utilities who are still experiencing a power outage due to Hurricane Sandy can receive free ice and water from Giant Food Stores and Weis Markets in Palmer and Forks Townships and Weis Markets. PPL customers may receive up to three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water daily. Just identify yourself as a PPL Electric Utilities customer at the time of purchase. If you cannot find a vendor in your area, you may purchase your ice and water supply from any vendor and PPL will reimburse you for up to the daily maximum amount noted above. Forward receipts to: PPL Electric Utilities Attn: Ice & Water 827 Hausman Road Allentown, Pa. 18104 Visit pplelectric.com for the full vendor list, which may change frequently…

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Weis Markets Freezes 1,000 Items

Company, which has Forks Township store, will keep price freeze in effect through Oct. 20.

Weis Markets Inc. is lowering prices on over 1,000 staple items and will freeze the prices of these products for 100 days in recognition of its 100th anniversary this year.   Company officials announced in a press release that it's Weis Markets' ninth Price Freeze since 2009. Weis opened a store in Forks Township last year. Another one is in Palmer Township. "We have extended our 90 day price freeze by 10 days in recognition of our company's 100 year anniversary. Since 2009, our Price Freeze program has generated nearly $40 million in savings for our customers," said Kurt Schertle, Weis Markets Executive Vice President, Sales and Merchandising.  "We have locked in long-term savings for customers through long-term deals and strategic buying…

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Police Blotter

Wind Gap Man Accused of Sexual Assaults On Teenage Girl

Court records say incidents took place after meeting at Sullivan Trail gas station and Weis Market in Forks Township.

A Wind Gap man is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl from Plainfield Township on four separate occasions in 2009 and 2010, according to court records. They met on a social networking site with the man using his son's profile, the records say. Thomas J. Ceraul, 42, of 561 W. Center St. is facing multiple felony sex crime charges including statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail on Wednesday. Each time, according to the arrest warrant, the girl, who was 13 during the first encounter and 14 during the next three meetings, walked from her grandparents’ house, where she was staying, to a Sunoco gas station …

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