Would You Hire This Guy As A Cop?

From a Lehigh Valley Police Officer:

An officer currently employed part-time in Nazareth once worked in an outlying borough. He fancies himself a narc, and took it upon himself to develop a female snitch. He did so without any authority from anyone in command. Unfortunately, drugs are a real problem in this community. There are some real bad guys who found out about the snitch.

They got the girl and gang-raped her in every orifice of her body, physically hurting her in the process, and then left her. Her girlfriend called this officer, and he did not know what to do. The Chief found out what was going on, and fired the guy.

Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta hired him.

Tales of Trachta: Why Nazareth Boro Council Fears Him

Trachta in his man cave

An effective and professional police department is very difficult in a small borough. Officers tend to resent Council members, who have the power to hire and fire, even though they nay be roofers or plumbers. In turn, many of the officers and chiefs look down their noses at the Council and Mayor. A problem police department can and has hobbled many small boroughs. The solution is a regional police department, in which personnel decisions are handled by the Chief and a civilian board.

Though Nazareth periodically squabbles, it is only in recent years that the police department has become a problem. The problems pretty much started with the appointment of Chief Thomas Trachta in 2009. After his arrival, morale within the department began to sink. Residents making calls for police protection on Saturday nights would wait over an hour, and it would be a state trooper who would respond instead of a Nazareth officer. Trachta openly defied instructions from Council members like Larry Stoudt concerning a TV at the police station, with the borough footing the cable bill.

“Who’s running the borough?" asked Stoudt in early 2012 "The chief and police department or this council sitting here running the borough? It’s time council decides who’s running the borough.”

Apparently, it's Trachta.

A few months after Stoudt's complaints, this veteran who devoted his life to the borough found himself arrested for attempting to thwart an investigation into poker machines at social clubs. The person who dimed him was Trachta.

Stoudt had suspicions that a recent club application at the Legion was bogus, and wanted it checked out. Trachta contends that Stoudt was trying to derail the state police operation.*

I believe Stoudt, who was placed on ARD. But Trachta had achieved his goal. He publicly disgraced his chief critic, and in a way that made it look as though he was cleaning up corruption. He got Stoudt thrown off the police committee. He even wrote to the Governor, demanding that Stoudt be removed from office, though he failed there.

One down.

Trachta had another vocal critic on the police committee. Unfortunately for him, he was caught by one of Nazareth's finest, with his pants down, taking a wizz. To me, this is no big deal.  Piss happens. To him and his family, it was humiliating. The family begged Chief Shit Analyzer to let him go, and even provided a statement concerning a medical condition that leads to frequent and sometimes uncontrollable pee pee stops.

I'm not naming this Council member out of respect for him and his family, who really were upset. Trachta gave this guy a break, but not out of compassion. Like Stoudt, he had to step off the police committee. In the meantime, he was able to install people more to his own liking.

Two down.

Instead of hiring vets who served this country honorably in Iraq, he began hiring part-time officers with no military or life experience and shady backgrounds  They listen to him.

Trachta has warned Council members that he keeps a file on each and every one of them.

He tried to get former Council member Jack Herbst, who's had enough after 12 years. Herbst knew what was going on and installed video cameras at his home. These were not to protect him from criminals, but Trachta.

This is how a borough like Nazareth loses control of its government. Town fathers elected by the people are scared into silence by a dictator from Brooklyn South.

And there goes democracy.

Most of the Nazareth police officers are decent and honorable men, but Trachta is teaching them NY tricks on beating the system.

As Independence Day approaches, it is nice to know there are still those who are willing to stand up to Trachta. One such person is Trevor Gehret, who was marched like a hardened criminal in chains for tiny stickers that say, "FT Fire Trachta."

But what about the people we elect to represent us? Are they going to allow a problem cop drive Nazareth into bankruptcy with civil rights suits? Are they going to allow him to persecute a woman and call her a "public menace" simply because she walks other people's dogs?

I will ask Council when they meet on Monday night. If they are unwilling to take action, they should all step down and just declare Trachta as Dictator.

__________________

* Not long ago, Trachta had the PSP run a criminal background check on one of his own officers, Danny Troxell, claiming it was for "investigation." He may only request a criminal background check for that reason or if someone has applied to him to be a police officer. After obtaining the criminal background, he gave it to Troxell. He has been attaching it to resumes to various police departments. The Chief misused borough resources to save Troxell a few lousy dollars. He also had Stoudt prosecuted for doing what he does himself.

NorCo Dems Assail GOP Cuts to Education

July 2, 2014 – Today, Lehigh Valley Democratic Candidates for State House decried the Republican budget and its drastic slashing of education funding.

State Representative Mike Schlossberg (D-Allentown) said that the budget doesn’t solve problems, but, “resorts to one-time funding gimmicks.” He also accused Governor Corbett and his Republican-controlled legislature of cutting $1 billion in education funding while letting oil and gas companies get a free ride.

State Representative Dan McNeill said that he is, “standing strong with the teachers of Pennsylvania to ensure that our next generation has fully-funded schools and that our hard working teachers get the pensions that they have earned.”

Michael Beyer, running against Justin Simmons for the State House seat that includes parts of southern Lehigh and Northampton Counties, said, “With each budget providing fewer dollars going to actual classrooms, even some of the most well-off districts like Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh, are forced to raise local property taxes and cut staff and programs.”

Terri Powell, running against Julie Harhart in Northampton and parts of Lehigh County, said, “This budget looks to balance the budget on the backs of teachers and students while still letting the oil and gas companies, some of the most profitable in the Commonwealth, drill in our backyards basically for free.”

(Blogger's Note: Independent Michael Molovinsky is also running in that race).

Leslie Altieri (D-Bethlehem Township), running against Marcia Hahn in Northampton County, said that, “The reality is that Corbett and Hahn have left public education spending at its lowest level in years and have been overly optimistic on tax revenues and left us facing a $1.4 billion hole in the budget

A chart with data compiled from the PSEA and recent school board budgets shows the real impacts of the last budgets proposed and passed by Corbett and his clones in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Effect of State Funding Changes on Lehigh and Northampton School Real Estate Taxes
School District	2013/2014 Tax Increase	2014/2015 Tax Increase	Change in Funding from PA since 2010/2011*
Catasauqua SD	1.30%	2.60%	-$280,678.00
Northern Lehigh SD	2.30%	2.80%	-$720,082.00
Northampton SD	2.47%	2.47%	-$1,224,003.00
Whitehall-Coplay SD	3.27%	3.30%	-$302,029.00
Parkland SD	3.67%	1.88%	-$200,149.00
Allentown SD	8.20%	5.85%	$7,632,500.00
Bethlehem SD	2.70%	4.90%	-$6,865,171.00

Matt Munsey, Chairman of the Northampton County Democrats, said, “This chart, these cuts, show precisely why we need to re-elect Mike Schlossberg, Steve Samuelson, Dan McNeill and Bob Freeman. It also shows with drastic clarity why we need to elect Tom Wolf as Governor, Michael Beyer, Terri Powell, Leslie Altieri and Pete Schweyer to the State House. We can’t keep letting oil and gas companies get a free pass while hiking taxes on our oldest, most vulnerable citizens and giving short shrift to the next generation.”

NorCo Grandstanding

During his year as Northampton County Council President, Ron Angle added an item to the agenda called the Executive's Report. He wanted to give the Executive an opportunity to inform Council about different topics, or weigh on on a matter being considered during that meeting. That report has morphed into a bi-weekly inquisition. Even when Executive John Brown has nothing to say, he is interrogated by Democratic members of Council with no prior notice or opportunity to prepare. Instead of being an Executive's Report, it's an opportunity for Council members like Lamont McClure, for example, to grandstand.

At last night's meeting, Brown was first quizzed by Scott Parsons about the delay in making cabinet picks. Fair enough. But then Bob Werner drags out an auditor general report from January concerning funds in the Sheriff's office, and demands to know whether recommendations have been implemented. Finally, Lamont McClure felt compelled to take a few shots at Brown's Deputy Director of Administration over her television skills.

Werner and McClure were both just looking for a reason to demean the Executive and grandstand. This is a perversion of the Executive's report, not good government.

Tales of Trachta: Officer Fred Lahovski Re-instated in Nazareth

Just when you think things in the Nazareth police department couldn't possibly get more interesting, they just did.

Officer Fred Lahovski was first hired to work in Nazareth in 2008. He was one of the people brought on board by Chief Michael Sinclair. If you think I write only negative things about Nazareth police officers, this is what I wrote about Lahovski in 2009.

Lahovski is the cop who once stepped in front of a speeding vehicle to save a child from getting run over by a drunk driver during a block party. He's the officer who once tackled a 32-year-old man who sat with a gun pointed to his head for five hours, threatening to shoot himself. This ill man still shot himself, but it was nonfatal.

On Sunday night, Lahovski was one of two officers who whisked a 9 year-old Nazareth boy to safety as that boy's distraught father fired on state troopers. We know one of these troopers is now dead. But Lahovski and another trooper saved a life that night. The life of a boy the same age as my grandson. The Express Times correctly called him a local hero.

Lahovski and two Nazareth officers who subsequently left the force, were honored with letters of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner.

So naturally, when Thomas Trachta became Chief, he persuaded Borough Council to fire the hero. Currently, I believe Officer Lahovski is with the Wilson Borough Police Department. He did serve briefly as a Chief in Forty-Fort.

There was no discussion before the vote terminating Lahovski.

An anonymous comment on my blog, posted late yesterday, states Lahovski has been reinstated in an arbitration ruling. Several police officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the comment, and add that Lahovski is entitled to 22-months of back pay. The arbitration ruling did include a one-month suspension.

It was too late in the day to speak with borough officials or Lahovski, but I will attempt to get the ruling..

Chief Thomas Trachta sold Council on this termination. It appears he failed to make the sale with an arbitrator.

This is yet another display of failed leadership.

Tomorrow, I finally will explain why Borough Council is afraid of Trachta.

Parsons Pressures Brown Over Cabinet Positions

Scott Parsons

Though he assumed office in January, Northampton County Executive John Brown has yet to fill his cabinet. There still is no Director of Fiscal Affairs, Sheriff, Director of Administration or Director of Court Services. At a very brief meeting of County Council on July 2, Council member Scott Parsons asked what's taking so long.

Brown indicated he is evaluating positions, conducting interviews and explained this is all "part of the process."

"I think the process is taking too long," noted Parsons. Council member Lamont McClure went on to claim that the Brown administration has been "hobbled" because Brown has failed to provide "the blocking and tackling of county government."

"It doesn't do us well to pretend everything is fine," he concluded.

McClure and Parsons are both Democrats, while Brown is a Republican.

In other business, Council members Glenn Geissinger and Bob Werner introduced an ordinance that will expand the Gracedale Advisory Board from nine to 15 members. "I'd like to know why?" asked Council member Ken Kraft. But he'll have to wait for two weeks, for a formal hearing.

Cathy Allen Resigning From Bangor Borough Council

It's no longer just a rumor. Northampton County Executive John Brown confirmed at this evening's County Council meeting that Cathy Allen, his Assistant or Deputy Director of Administration, is resigning from Bangor Borough Council on Monday. Brown indicated she is resigning "to commit herself to the County 100%."

Brown made the announcement in response to concerns raised by Council member Lamont McClure. He noted that her "dual roles" bother him, and added her recent Bangor Pool interview, concerning the near drowning of a child, "did not inspire our confidence."

Memorial Service Planned For Murdered Israeli Teens

A memorial service has been planned to mourn the loss of three young lives that were taken because they happen to be Jews. Mark Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, has announced that the service will take place on Wednesday, July 2, 7:15 pm, at Allentown's Jewish Community Center (702 N. 22d St).

"On behalf of our Lehigh Valley Jewish community, we join with our brothers and sisters across the Jewish world in mourning the tragic and senseless loss of Naftali Fraenkel (16) z"l, Gilad Shaar (16) z"l, and Eyal Yifrach (19) z"l. "We express our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. There are no words to describe this devastating loss of three young lives. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorists involved in the senseless murder of three innocent teenagers, and pray that justice will be served.

"For the past 18 days since the kidnapping, we were unified in prayer and hope for the teens' safe return. Now, tragically, we are unified in grief. Our hearts are one with the people of Israel as we stand in solidarity with Israel, especially during this difficult time.

"Tomorrow night (Wednesday, July 2nd) at 7:15 PM, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group will coordinate a community-wide Memorial Service at 7:15 PM at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown.

"We pray that peace may come to Israel and to the entire Middle East for the sake of all who cherish life.

"May the memories of these innocents be a blessing and their families be comforted among the mourners all who mourn."

Rumormill: Cathy Allen to Resign as Bangor Council Prez

Northampton County Assistant Director of Administration Cathy Allen is also Bangor Borough Council President. She last week told WFMZ that "there's nothing to see here" with respect to a near drowning at Bangor pool. Informed sources tell me she will resign her position as Borough Council President on Monday evening.
 

Tales of Trachta: Chief Covers Cop's Affair

Nazareth only has two full-time officers, besides Chief Thomas Trachta. The rest are part-timers. One of them, Dan Troxell, does the Chief's masonry work at his home in Bushkill Township. He's the arresting officer in Stickergate. Maybe he got a few extra hours. But that's not the dirty, little secret I mentioned yesterday.

This secret, which is not really so secret, involves another part-time police officer. A married man with kids, he began carrying on an affair with a woman in town. He fooled her into thinking he cares about her. Now I'm no prude, and if he wants to ride to Space Mountain with twenty different women or even a few chipmunks, that's his business. But he was doin' the dirty while on duty. That makes it our business, Instead of stopping it, Chief Trachta covered it up. What's worse, he retaliated against those who complained.

I have not named this officer because I have no desire to hurt his family. But I really should. Chances are they know, even if they don't know exactly. Wives, in particular, have a sixth sense about cheating husbands. The reason I should name him is because he's still working in Nazareth. He's one of Trachta's pets, and the Chief has done damage control for him.

Some of this damage control is the Stickergate prosecution. That's payback. Trevor Gehret, one of the three named defendants in Stickergate, saw this officer leave this woman's apartment on numerous occasions, while on duty, in full uniform. He repeatedly called Trachta to complain, but was always brushed off.

"Nothing to see here, Gehret, please disperse."

Gehret was by no means alone. Several downtown residents, the ones Trachta derisively calls townies, often saw this woman hop into this officer's cruiser, while he was on duty. The two would drive off, and then she would return, a few hours later, a little worse for the wear. They called Trachta, too, and were brushed off.

"Nothing to see here, townies, move along."

Although I have not seen them, several residents tell me they have seen the text messages this officer sent to his lover while he was on duty. Those messages are maintained by phone companies, even if deleted by the customer.

Other police officers actually found used condoms in the cruiser from time to time.

" This is nothing out of the unusual. Maybe it came that way."

This is a theft of services. Instead of protecting the citizens of Nazareth, this cop was going on rides to Space Mountain. The Indian Tower, too. He stole from the Nazareth taxpayers, something far more serious than a few 2" x 2" stickers.

Those who complained to Trachta found that they themselves were being followed, and in some cases, charged with some petty traffic offense

This officer even carried out a vendetta his lover had against another woman. He began following her in his cruiser, making her a nervous wreck. Then one day, he pulled her over for running a stop sign. Though she came to a complete stop, who would believe her? She paid the fine.

Some of Gehret's attackers contend he should have complained to Borough Council instead of making stickers. Well , last June, that's exactly what he did. They sat there, afraid to do anything. The Chief denied it all, and after the hearing, told Trevor he had just made a serious mistake

Now most people are intimidated by cops. But Trevor, unlike others who shut up and go away, refuses to be bullied.

Tomorrow, I'll explain why Borough Council is afraid of Trachta.

Blogger's note: In addition to the cheating officer, I know the identities of several people involved here,including the jilted lover, the woman who was being followed, other townies who complained and officers who saw the willy wrappers. 

Updated 10 pm: West Easton's common scold, Tricia Mezzacappa, has launched yet another spam attack, until her meds kick in. This is who supports Trachta, which alone should be enough to make him resign. She is trying to prevent others from speaking out because she thinks hers is the only voice that matters. In the meantime, my defamation verdict, on the left sidebar, is growing larger. I am deleting as time permits.

AG Kane Has Become a Pain

When Kathleen Kane was elected Pennsylvania's Attorney General, I had high hopes for her. I never bought into her campaign claim that Governor Corbett had dragged his feet on the Sandusky scandal, but it persuaded many voters. I was impressed by what I thought was her advocacy for children, and voted for her. I admit it. It is now clear to me that the only person she has ever advocated for is herself. And she's doing a lousy job of it. Instead of seeing her as a viable U.S. Senate candidate against Pat Toomey, I doubt she'll hold on to the office she won so convincingly. Her luster is gone.

Her first big mistake centers around her decision to shut down a corruption probe that caught Philadelphia are state reps and one district judge accepting gifts. That decision may have been the right call, but accusing career prosecutors of anti-black bias is bizarre when most of them were themselves black. She then got into a public passing match with Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, challenged him to take the case,and he did. When the Inky began to ask hard questions, she hired Richard Sprague for a possible defamation suit.  

Her second big error is more recent, and it concerns the long awaited Sandusky report. She commissioned a law school professor who, in balanced, election-free language, basically exonerated Governor Corbett, who at the time was AG. Corbett played no politics, and using a Grand Jury was a reasonable way to proceed. But when she released the analysis, Kane still insisted there were "inexplicable delays" and claimed that Sandusky had added two more victims to his list as the investigation dragged on.

That would be terrible, except it's a lie. Kane was forced to admit her error, not in person, but through someone who would not identify himself.

There's a third problem, though the press has been slow to pick up on it.

In January, a Kathleen Kane Grand Jury, issued a scathing presentment recommending charges against Luzerne County Attorney Shelley Centini. Representing an accused double-murder, she was called part of a "cabal of criminals" who engaged in witness intimidation and even paid witnesses. In scathing language, Centini was branded as a "win-at-any-cost" lawyer.

They made her sound like a Mafia shill.

She's a Public Defender.

Accused of numerous felonies, from perjury to witness intimidation, bail was set at $500,000 unsecured.

Earlier this month, all charges were dismissed following a preliminary hearing. That almost never happens, and means that Kane failed to establish even a prima facie case.

It appears that what Kane allegations and reality are in different domains.

Some might call this inexperience. I think she's dishonest, which is a bad character trait in an Attorney General.

By The Way, It IS About Free Speech

Above you can see some of the numerous signs posted around Nazareth over the past weekend. The signs are usually removed, but the nails, tacks, staples, tape and string remain. On the picture of a parking meter on the upper left, you can see a sticker. It's advertising a skate board business. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for these signs in Nazareth. Trevor Geheret never would have been prosecuted for his stickers, but for their content. That's why it violates the First Amendment. Gehret is not being proescuted for littering or malicious mischief, but for what he said.

What Pseudonyms Does Mezzacappa Use?

Can you help out?  Tricia Mezzacappa is unable to post at The Express Times under her own name. Her account was suspended after she repeatedly wrote about how "perfect" it would be to put a few hollow point bullets through my skull. She's created a plethora of other names, and injects herself into numerous stories.

Matt Dees is rightfully upset at being defamed by Tricia Mezzacappa at Lehigh Valley Live's Stickergate story.. He and I have both flagged the offensive comment that she posted, posing as Sparticus.

I intend to subpoena the registration information for Sparticus, as well as the other names she has created. That way she can be called on to account for her lies, which are spewed as a form of harassment.

I'm aware that she uses Sparticus, tictactoe, Matteodefault, and blueberries. If you are aware of any others, please list them in a comment below.

Updated 10 AM: The Express Times has thankfully removed the defamatory comment posted by Sparticus.

Instead of Kazoos, Nazareth Has a Perp Parade

Nazareth's annual kazoo parade has been canceled on Independence Day. It would be a joke, like the kazoo. Nazareth is hardly independent. It's under the thumb of a police chief with a thick Brooklyn accent who makes Captain Queeg look normal. Though he's been slammed with civil rights suit after civil rights suit in his short tenure here, Borough Council is afraid of him. He has just served notice that free speech is barred in Nazareth, at least when he's the object. He made that clear on Friday with a staged perp parade for three people who haven't been convicted of anything.

When Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta arrested Trevor Gehret and two others on Friday over Stickergate, he detained them until both papers arrived. Then he paraded them outside, up from the police station to District Judge John Capobianco's courtroom. They were shackled and handcuffed, so the dailies could snap pictures of these desperadoes doing what is called the perp walk. The Morning Call video shows Jeremy Peters getting at least one shove by a cop who wants him to move faster.

It was actually more of a parade, along the entire length of the bank building. It was done to publicly humiliate this trio and impress a powerful image of guilt in the mind of the public. People charged with littering were treated as though they had just attempted to assassinate the President.

It was also totally unnecessary. Trachta could have easily escorted them up the stairway from the police station into the courtroom.

Trachta must have thought this would help his poor image. His plan backfired. Online comments in both newspapers have expressed outrage at this abuse of police power. The Chief has been called a megalomaniac, egotistical maniac, Nazi, moron, transplanted clown, Barney Fife and out-of-control.

I love it when jerks prove me right by their own actions.

I met Gehret on Friday, after his arrest and near immediate release by District Judge John Capobianco. He filled me in on his ordeal.

Police ignore signs on utility poles, but prosecute 2" x 2"stickers

Gehret was first called into the police station on Thursday night. He admitted to making the stickers, but nothing else. In a statement room, Chief Trachta called the District Attorney's office for permission to file charges, which is fairly routine. But get this. He made the call by speakerphone, and Gehret could hear every word.

Trachta apparently wanted to charge me, too, with harassment. He called me a "public nuisance" who dared report how much he paid for his home ($370,000) and where he lives (Bushkill Tp). This is public information. If I were like Trachta, I would have published his street address and phone number, too. An Assistant DA on the other end of the line had to explain that there's this goofy thing called the First Amendment. It applies even in Nazareth. It protects me. It protects Gehret, too, as the Chief will soon discover.

Trachta then tried to turn Gehret into a snitch. If Gehret would meet with me and find out where I am getting my information, he'd consider letting him off.  He even wanted Gehret to dime other Nazareth police officers, though Gehret had no discussions with any of them about this matter.

Gehret refused.

Showing his vindictive side, Trachta told Gehret he's a "retard." Very professional.  He threatened to perp walk Gehret

He still refused.

On Friday, Trachta pulled the trigger. Once again, he summoned Gehret, along with Jeremy Peters and Daniel Logothetis. They refused to provide confessions, instead asking for a lawyer. For exercising their constitutional rights, they were cuffed and tossed into a cell.

Gehret got to sit in the statement room again, while Trachta called the DA's Office and the press, inviting them to come for the show. Then they all waited for the newspapers. Once he knew they were all there, Trachta went outside and had an extensive discussion with them. Then, instead of taking the three defendants up the stairwell, Trachta conducted his perp parade along the bank building, creating a traffic hazard for the drive thru crowd.

All he needed was a marching band.

And a kazoo.

Let's keep in mind the charges here. They are all summary offenses, except for criminal mischief. That's a third degree misdemeanor, and that's a stretch. These defendants presented no flight risk. There really was no basis for an arrest. But they're townies, second class citizens. They get treated like garbage.

As the trio made its way up the hill, I couldn't help but be reminded of another trio forced to do a perp walk over 2,000 years ago. The original perp walk. Jesus Christ and the two thieves were marched along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Even Imperial Rome had the good sense to wait until there was a trial and conviction before this public humiliation.

Past American humiliations have included the stockade, dunking stool and the scarlet ‘A’ for adulterers. But those also followed a trial and conviction.

Fourteen years ago, the Second Circuit ruled that staged perp walks like the one Trachta conducted, violate a person's rights under the Fourth Amendment. They also shatter the presumption of innocence and constitute a form of punishment before there's even a finding of guilt.

Of course that was Trachta's intention.

I suspect that Gehret will soon be able to buy lots of stickers.

In the meantime, there was no police coverage at all in Nazareth on Saturday night.

Let the civil rights lawsuits begin.  I want to tell you why Chief Trachta really has a hot nut for Gehret. It's more than the stickers. Gehret knows a dirty little secret. He even went to Borough Council with it. Trachta wants to silence him. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

HAM Radio Operators Prepare For Emergencies

Ham operators set up six meter antenna at Louise Moore Park

In a day of cell phones and satellites, people no longer pay much attention to ham radios. But when Hurricane Sandy stuck in 2012, and most Lehigh Valley municipalities were without power or cell phone service, it is the lowly ham radio that kept people in touch. Northampton County Emergency Management relied on them to keep in touch with outlying townships. So did the American Red Cross, which had ham operators at each emergency shelter. In the last weekend of June, amateur radio operators conduct an annual field day to sharpen their abilities to communicate without power.

Contacts were monitored at three different stations

The Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club, based in Bethlehem Township, conducted their annual field day at Louise Moore Park in Lower Nazareth. For 24 hours straight, club members manning three stations made as many contacts with other ham operators throughout the country. At the end of 24 hours, they had completed 1,300 contacts in all 50 states,according to Stephanie Koles (WX3K), the Field Day Chair and burger chef for 130 participants,

Bilger scraped his elbow helping to erect antenna

One of these participants was 90 year old Ray Bilger (W3TDF), who brought and helped erect a six-meter antenna. A WWII vet, Bilger worked for 43 years at the Reading Railroad. But he retained his love of radio, and became licensed in 1946, right after getting out of the service. He can still read and send Morse code at 30 words per minute.  

He explained why ham operators are still so crucial. "If you have a major eruption on the sun, it will take all the satellites out," he explained. "And without the satellites, you don't have cell phones, you don't have TVs, you don't have nothing."

Rick Saeger (K300)is a world class contacter who'd like to see more young people involved. "It's a great hobby," he said. "It's family friendly. we'd like to get more people involved because it's a great hobby." His daughter Sara (K3000),now 23, was licensed at age 8.

Saeger stated you could get started in this hobby for under $100.

Because this was a 24-hour operation, some operators like Ben Ramig (KB3CTX) camped on site.

Cigars International - More Than Just Cigars

Cigars International, located near Route 22, at 4078 Nazareth Pike, was packed on June 28 for much more than a one-day sale. Outside, a band played as customers feasted at an old-fashioned BBQ, along with free beer. Inside the massive store, customers huddled in a TV room to watch soccer. There is also a game room to play chess, and some even saddled up against a bar.

Staff members Time Kramer, Ryne Rozelle, Jim Kerebs and Drew Braun were busy, but smiling.

Like the members at some exclusive club, customers can sit in an easy share, enjoy a game and smoke a corona without being asked to leave.

Some customers also bought cigars for the "Cigars for Troops" program sponsored by the store.

Three Males Arrested In Nazareth's Stickergate

After a week of nonstop investigation, Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta has made an arrest in Stickergate. He paraded three males in front of the police station a few minutes ago, in shackles and handcuffs. Those three are accused of being the persons responsible for tiny 2" x 2" "FT Fire Tracthta" stickers that began popping up in Nazareth over the weekend.

Though these stickers have damaged nothing, and are protected free speech, Trachta is demanding 20 years in the electric chair.

Now all he needs to do is get those damn Freemason.

Tales of Trachta: The Freemason Conspiracy

Masons plot against Trachta

In my first installment of Tales of Trachta, "Shit Happens," someone anonymously posted this bizarre comment: "grow up Bernie and spend more time at the temple with your other than pure buddies". At first, I thought this was an anti-Semitic slur, though I happen to be Irish and a Druid. Then I remembered.

Numerous sources have told me that Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta thinks the Freemasons, whose lodges meet in temples, are out to get him. So I suspect that comment comes from someone, possibly Trachta himself, who considers freemasonry an evil menace.

I had no idea I was a Freemason myself.

Are they out to get Trachta? I called around to a few Grand Masters, and they tell me it's all true. They've been plotting for years, and FT is part of their secret code. In fact, I'll bet that big dump that someone deposited on Trachta's porch was left by a Mason.

DeFranco, Snover Will Lead NorCo GOP, Despite Dirty Tricks

Craig DeFranco, Lee Snover and Ron Angle after election

Despite the usual dirty tricks from a group calling themselves Rats, the Northampton County GOP faithful have re-elected Craig DeFranco and Lee Snover to lead the County party. DeFranco was elected Chair in a close, 96-90, vote. Lee Snover prevailed in the Vice Chair race by 106-85. Because the Rats objected to the transparency of a reorganization at the courthouse, which included worries about my reporting, the election was held at the Chrin Community Center. That way the public could be excluded and Rats could open carry. But Chrin banned firearms, and two constables were on hand to ensure order was maintained. The election process was conducted by Vic Scomillio, the Northampton County Solicitor.

What were the dirty tricks I mention? What the Rats did was select voters in different precincts and elect them to committee positions, without bothering to tell them. After they were elected, they were approached, and most said they had no interest and gave proxies to Rats like Ronnie DelBacco.

Lee Snover got wind of what was happening when she contacted two of the newly elected committee members. They instructed DelBacco that they were withdrawing their proxies, but he refused to withdraw them. During the meeting, they both called in and advised they were withdrawing their proxies, but DelBacco still refused, and cast their votes for the Rat candidates.

Snover also asked Council member Hayden Phillips to nominate her. He refused, stating he would be neutral in the Vice Chair race and cast no vote. Then he voted, contrary to what he had told her. Snover confronted him, but he just brushed her off.

Snover delivered what was, by all accounts, a great speech (you can read it here) before the vote. Nobody who reads that speech would ever conclude she is a RINO. Pointing to Republican success in the last election cycle, she asks, "Why would you replace the winning team?" She also implored fellow Republicans to start "unifying and concentrating on winning as opposed to tearing each other down."

That won't happen with nuts like Mezzacappa and DelBacco, who are thought by many to be the co-authors of "David Jones" emails that launch vicious personal attacks at other Republicans. Mezzacappa told Ron Angle, who likes to carry an unlit cigar with him, to put it away. He told her to mind her own business.

The Rats, incidentally, are chaired by Tom Carroll, who thinks he can be elected judge after aligning himself with a group that called themselves "troublemakers" last night.

Though I was barred from the Chrin building for the evening's festivities, I met with the real Ron Angle Slate after the meeting for an impromptu get together at the Nazareth Diner. That's where I got most of my facts.

The real Ron Angle slate

Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board Picks New Solicitors

Terry Faul

After nearly 15 years, Mickey Thompson is no longer the Solicitor to Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board. At their June 25 meeting, zoners replaced by a unanimous vote. Erich Shock was selected as Thompson's successor, with Terry Faul serving as Shock's assistant.

Thompson is the Chief Operating Officer at Pennsylvania Venture Capital, which is owned by controversial developer Abe Atiyeh. In the past several years, Thompson has been forced to recuse himself from matters involving Atiyeh or one of his competitors. In 2012, then DCED Director Joe Kelly publicly called on the Zoning Hearing Board to replace Thompson because his role as legal advisor might unfairly tarnish the Board. The Board resisted that move, though some members did feel it was time for a change.

Thompson is a 1999 graduate of the Syracuse University School of law, and had a near perfect record on court appeals of Board decisions.

He was absent from the June 25 meeting.

Shock, who was also absent, is a 1992 graduate of the George Mason University School of Law. He is a shareholder at Fitzpatrick, Lentz and Bubba and a former president of the Lehigh County Bar Association.

Shock's assistant, Terry Faul, was present and provided legal advise to the Board during their hearings. A partner in the King Spry firm, Faul is a 1976 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.