Coming Your Way, Truck Traffic and Big Boxes!

Although Allentown has received most of the recent attention, the real story is going on in Allen and East Allen Townships. That's where Fed Ex Ground is under construction. At full build out, Lehigh Valley Planning Comm'n Executive Director Becky Bradley predicts it "will be the largest ground facility in the world." It will bring jobs, but it will also include a lot more big box warehouses and logistics facilities that will double truck traffic in the Lehigh Valley over the next few years. They ware being built in Allen and East Allen Townships, near the Fed Ex, with the ultimate goal being same day delivery to customers along the east coast. And while online shopping and big boxes explode, brick and mortar department stores will wither, taking jobs away.

In his first State of the County address, NorCo Exec Lamont McClure said he's troubled by the impact of this development. But there's little a county can do. We may have a regional planning commission, but we have no regional planning and zoning laws. Over the years, developers have systematically destroyed much of the rustic charm of the Lehigh Valley. There's no longer much difference between Route 248 and in Northampton County and Route 145 in Lehigh.

A small group of local citizens have banded together. They call themselves CARD (Citizens for Accountability and Responsible Development).

In the meantime, Jaindl and Watson Land Companies which are proposing six warehouses taking up 2.5 million sq ft in Allen Township. Part of the plan requires an easement over Northampton Area School District property for a state road and a water detention basin. But a deed restriction in the school district deed requires that the land be used solely for ""education and related purposes."

CARD filed a RTK request, seeking correspondence between Jaindl and school officials from 2014 to present. It's been flat out denied and for five reasons.

One reason cited, an internal investigation, is bullshit. That would include internal correspondence, not correspondence between Jaindl and the school.

A second reason for denying everything is the fact that some of the correspondence includes real estate appraisals. That information could be redacted.

A third reason is that these are internal predecisional deliberations. Bullshit again. Communications with Jaindl are necessarily external.

A fourth reason to deny everything is attorney-client privilege and work product. This is nonsense. To the extent that there is attorney client privilege, it is waived in communications with a third party.

A fifth and final reason for denying everything is that it might reveal employee identification numbers. This is nonsense because that information can easily be redacted.

Unfortunately, the school district response is dated February 20. This was just sent to me yesterday. Hopefully, CARD has appealed. It is quite clear that the school district has no intention of being accountable.

"Missing" Jessica Padgett Victim of Homicide

DA John Morganelli and PSP Lt Joseph Sokolofski

Updated 6:07 pm:
A Whitehall Township woman who has been missing since November 21, when she left her job at Northampton's Duck Duck Goose Child Care, has been found. Gregory Robert Graf, age 53, is being held in Northampton County jail on charges that he killed Jessica Padgett, age 31, and then disposed of her remains behind a shed on his property, located along Covered Bridge Road in Allen Township. According to an affidavit of probably cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police, Graf admitted to shooting her and hiding her body.

So ends a strange disappearance that had drawn national attention. Padgett's sister, Kristi Davis, had set up a "Help Find Jessica Padgett" Facebook page that had attracted over 5,000 followers. Flyers were posted along telephone poles and at local businesses, and search parties were organized.

One of those who assisted in the search is Graf, the man who allegedly had known all along that she was dead.

District Attorney John Morganelli, who will be trying this case personally, stated that things happened very quickly after she left the day care on November 21 at 1 pm for the four-mile trip to use her step-father's fax machine. Within a half hour of her departure, she was dead. Morganelli believes there may have been a sexual element, although he is waiting for an autopsy.

Graf lived with Padgett's mother, Danelle, but she was in Florida at the time of the homicide. She and Graf are the owners of Distinctive Fence, which is based at their home.

Padgett's car was later discovered at a Dollar General Store. Pennsylvania State Police were able to review surveillance video, and could see the vehicle being parked, but the person who exited was not her. Her step father's truck was parked near by, and there is surveillance video of that truck later being driven away. Morganelli believes this may be evidence that this was a planned killing.

Padgett, whose Facebook page indicates she was just married in September, is survived by her husband Mica, two biological children and a step-child.

Her family released a statement stating, "The world shines less bright today," and calling her "a beautiful, vibrant young woman who was beloved by her family and friends." After thanking the Pennsylvania State Police for their "tireless efforts," they asked that " you please respect our privacy while we grieve."

My Allen Township Blogging Intern Is Fired

I won't mention this guy's name. He's pretty old, and is recently out of a job. So I dispatched him last night to cover the FedEx plant proposed in Allen Township, where he happens to live.

I got one report.

"Over 350 people here," I was told in a text message

And that was it.

Thanks a frickin' lot.

According to Express Times reporter Colin McEvoy, the number was 180.

Whether the number is 180 or 350, it's pretty difficult to stop a project if it is allowed by the zoning ordinance.

KCB - NorCo's Only Covered Bridge

KCB, not to be confused with KGB, is the acronym by which people in the Northampton area refer to Kreidersville Covered Bridge.

Located in and owned by Allen Township, this 116' foot long wooden bridge was built in 1839, and is Northampton County's sole remaining covered bridge. It is also Northampton County's oldest bridge.

Northampton County uses some of its hotel tax money for maintenance by a dedicated group of volunteers, who made a brief presentation at last night's County Council meeting.

There are 211 covered bridges remaining in Pennsylvania, making it the covered bridge capiatla of the world.  Six are in Lehigh County. Its oldest, Bogert Bridge, was built in 1841.