40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 17 USPS 248-700
APRIL 28-MAY 4, 2011 A General Circulation Newspaper Serving The Community Since 1942
SERVING BATH, CHAPMAN, NORTHAMPTON, NAZARETH BOROS; ALLEN, E. ALLEN, MOORE, LEHIGH, BUSHKILL, LOWER NAZARETH & UPPER NAZARETH TWPS.
Ballard pleads Guilty to murders
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
HONOR STUDENTS recognized for their academic achievements on April 19 included: Parth Bhatt, Eric Boschi, Tyler Dally, Tye Daniels, Danny Dao, Justin Dech, Allison Fleming, Jacob George, Alia Goral, Zachary Gotthardt, Jayde Hooven, Alex Ifkovits, Joseph Kertsmar, Erika Klemp, Brandi Kulp, Kaitlyn Kuntzman, Michael Meckes, Richard M. Meyers II, Caitlin Perry, Jade Popp, Kelsie Schmall, Kyle Schwartz, Rein Short, Mary Szazdi, Anthony J. Trunzo, and Katrina Wachter. Missing from photo are Kara Bonenberger, Sarah Galloway, Jacqueline O’Connell, Mary Szazdi, and Anna Zangari. – Home News photo
Schools official traces path That led students to honors
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Northampton Area Schools Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik recalled the school year 2005-06 for 30 NASHS seniors
as they were honored this past Tuesday night at the 47th annual recognition dinner sponsored by the Exchange Club of Northampton. It was then that he was a
School board axes activity Bus from next year’s budget
In a majority vote of the Northampton Area School Board on Monday night, the activity bus was eliminated for the 2011-12 school year. Only director Robert Koch opposed the action. He said that parents don’t care and students should have the bus available. Director Jane Erdo countered, saying a lot of parents don’t have cars or are on limited income. “Some of the parents have it real tough.” While she noted that students need that extra help, she said she understands the fiscal responsibility faced by the school district, so an activity bus is a luxury.
There was no discussion on the proposed budget, but board president David Gogel commented that changes are taking place daily and they hope to balance the budget for final approval on June 30. Unlike the April 11 meeting, only a handful of residents attended the meeting in the high school auditorium. Three persons did comment. A woman said that the estimated budget in February and April showed shortfalls. She said there should be some way to limit what Continued on page 7
principal and they were a part of junior high school, when the pupils were brought together in a mini camp to learn about the junior high pods and their new learning experience. He recalled reviewing their scores, when they were in seventh grade and began moving up through the grades toward senior high. “Now you’ve proven your excellence in achievement, and are being honored for that,” he told the students at the recognition dinner sponsored by the Exchange Club of Northampton. Kovalchik thanked the Exchange Club for having the program that honors these excellent students. The Northampton Community Center was filled with parents and siblings and many from the faculty as one by one the students received recognition certificates after their names were announced by Senior High Principal J. William Hume. Exchange president Arthur Schisler served as emcee for the program and the invocation and benediction were given by Linda McKenzie of the Exchange club. Dinner music was provided by the senior high string chamber orchestra.
Michael Eric Ballard, 37, this past Wednesday pleaded guilty to the stabbing deaths of four people in a Northampton Borough home last summer. It was a surprise move on his part, with early expectations that an out-of-county jury would be called in to hear testimony in a trial expected to last at least two weeks. Now, a Northampton County jury will decide if he will face death by execution or be sentenced to life in prison without parole. It was on June 26, 2010 that Ballard stabbed his victims numerous times, causing their immediate deaths. The
MICHAEL BALLARD victims included his former girlfriend, Denise Merhi, 39; her father, Dennis Marsh, 62; her grandfather, Alvin Marsh, Sr., 87; and a neighbor, Steven Zernhelt, 53. It was learned recently that Zernhelt had asked his wife Continued on page 13
Area town hall meetings To air Gracedale question Two of three town hall meetings to discuss the future of Gracedale will be held in the Home News area next week and the week after. Northampton Council Councilman Ron Angle has announced the two local meetings in which the county’s nursing home will be discussed will be on Tuesday, May 3 at Lehigh Twsp. Vol. Fire Co. in Cherryville, and on Thursday, May 12 at the Bushkill Twsp. Vol. Fire Co. at 155 Firehouse Lane, Bushkill Township. Northampton County voters on Tuesday, May 17 will be asked to decide whether or not they want to put a five-year moratorium on selling Gracedale to TL Global, which has bid $35-million to buy the facilities in Upper Nazareth Township. Those who want to sell Gracedale say the home could
serve more senior citizens better under private ownership and that holding Gracedale in county hands would lead to tax increases since the home has operated at a loss of revenue in the recent past. Opponents say they are concerned for the employees at Gracedale as well as those who reside there, feeling that the quality of care might be less than it presently is. –––––––––––Commentary on Page 2 ––––––––––– County Executive John Stoffa says the sale would allow the county to lower real estate taxes and increase spending for the Area Agency on Aging for one thing. In addition to the Lehigh and Bushkill township meetings, there was one this Monday at the Beehive Community Center in Bangor.
Sgt. Melinsky Promoted in CRPD Michael S. Melinsky has been promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Colonial Regional Police Department. Sergeant Melinsky started his career as a Bath Borough police officer in 1985, leaving in 1988 to join the Nazareth Area Police Department. He joined the CRPD in 1995 with the formation of the department. MICHAEL S. MELINSKY
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2 0 1 0 L e B E A M C o m m u n i t y S p i r i t Aw a rd R e c i p i e n t