Sands Leads Pa. Casinos in 2015 Table Games Revenue

Bethlehem Sands led all Pennsylvania casinos in table games revenue, according to a report released by the state gaming board. It raked in $214 million, which is a 13.4% jump over the previous year. Overall, Pennsylvania's casinos generated over $3.1 billion in revenue last year, the most money since casinos began operations in 2006.

Slots machine revenue at the Sands generated $299 million, a 6.6% revenue over 2014. Sands finished second among 12 casinos in slots revenue.

The Sands was also fined $36,000 for three instances last August in which persons under age 21 gained access to the gambling floor and gambled.

Opinions Online, 1/16/15

Blogger's Note:Opinions Online is a regular Saturday feature. If you'd like to express your opinion on any topic, click on the Opinions Online button on my left sidebar. You can also call 385-325-2564. In addition to these submissions, I am taking some comments from throughout the week and re-publishing them here.

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I like reading Ron Beitler's blog and think he is very smart and an asset to Lower Macungie. I have 2 thoughts on him serving with his father on the LMT Board. The 1st is that I wonder how many people voted for the father thinking that they were voting for the son? The 2nd is as much as I like Ron, I don't think it is good local government when 2 close family members serve on the same board. A husband and wife, brothers, or father and son should never serve on the same board. On the LMT Board they would only need 1 other member to vote with them and they would get their way.

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When will the dark wall of secrecy concerning the cop who injured 2 civilians be lifted? Yet another example of the dishonesty and lack of transparency of the current rabble running Bethlehem into the ground.

Blogger's Note: This comment was posted three times by the same person on different dates. Once is enough.

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The FBI has expanded its probe of Hillary Clinton to include “public corruption” involving the Clinton Foundation is a massive step forward in the investigation of possible corruption involving the Clintons.

It’s no longer about emails. It’s about money and possible payoffs during her tenure as Secretary of State.

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I'm conflicted regarding the case recently heard by the Supreme Court, which looks likely to overturn the 1977 decision in Abood vs. Detroit Board of Ed and rule that forcing public-sector workers to contribute fair share dues to unions is unconstitutional. Politically, I'm very liberal and pro-union. However as a current fair share contributor to my local, I'm struggling to see the value in becoming a full dues-paying member. My local fails to keep me apprised of what is going on with contract negotiations (which is the express purpose of them collecting my 1%) and getting questions answered is like pulling teeth. So if Abood is overturned and they no longer get to steal 1% of non-members' earnings, the union will have to demonstrate it's value to entice workers to join and it will be forced into becoming a better, stronger advocate for workers. Perhaps there will even be union meetings where employees will get their questions answered!

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Once again the $104,000 Bedlum IT employee needs help with his web site. IT finally got the 2016 budget on line but the 2015 version remains on the Business Administrator's (BA) site. One would hope that the BA was working off the proper game plan.Very shabby work from IT and even worse supervision from the BA.

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On the bedlum website the council members info has not been updated. Nor has the annual president of council report been updated since 2013. This tells me that willie and the boys and girls apparently did nothing in 2014/2015 worth reporting. Why doesn't that surprise me?Willie if you can't get this done how do you expect to be able to lead the city as mayor? You really need to have a chat with IT and the city clerk. booby d is giving you every reason to defeat him but you can't even clean up your own backyard. Perhaps you are too busy counting your contributions from developers.

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Kudos to Mayor Panto and the City of Easton for their innovative 20 year plan.

Bethlehem used to be the rose of the valley but no more.They mostly have unhappy citizens and businesses, but no real plan. (They do have great campaign finances and well working cell phones.)

Allentown has crime, empty apartments and businesses and the most bobble heads and indictments.
Keep up the good work Sal.

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It seems as though they're waiting for someone to get killed at the intersection of Friedenstal, 191 & Schoeneck in Nazareth. What would it take to put up 2 more stop signs? Really, why is doing something so simple such a big deal?

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In this day and age of everything instant, it seems to me there is no reason why political contributions should not be reported to a public web site within 24 hours of their receipt? Make that a requirement, and require all non-individual contributions be identified by the head of the entity and/or officers/treasurer. Disclosure, disclosure, disclosure!

Getting a report months later, after an election, simply doesn't permit a "willing to be informed voter" of the connections and make informed decisions.

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There is a disturbing new element coming out of the Morning Call.

It a;pears that with a change of editors, a new policy has been implemented with regards to the comments on articles published. This is both with "news" articles, as well as opinion pieces.

What is happening is that instead of just screening the comments for profanity and racist words, they are also screening the articles for the content.

If the content is not in line with the beliefs of the Morning Call, the comment is censored and does not appear. That way, there is unanimity of opinion, with no dissenting viewpoints.

After all, we all agree with everything the paper publishes, especially in its opinion and letters to the editor pages.

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Next week Lower Macungie Township will consider rezoning the Village of East Texas. I urge everyone interested to read the proposed ordinance closely. The former Daytimer parking lot will be open for housing types not allowed currently. Multiple uses will be allowed in buildings. The property's owner was on the committee which prepared the ordinance. That committee's meetings were not advertised and public input was minimal.

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What a circus act West Easton must have been. I am enjoying watching their meetings on Matt Dees' blog. Things are going in a much more positive direction now that Ms. Gross has exited, but it is a shame that she was allowed to run with the scorched earth policy in her last days. That is why in private industry someone who is capable of doing what she did is instantly locked out of their computer and are immediately escorted out of the building once there is any hint that they are leaving.

Bethlehem Boyd Blighted

Though Bethlehem's Boyd Theatre was recently sold for $1.35 million, the Planning Commission added it to its roster of blighted properties at their January 14 meeting. Chief Building Inspector Craig Hynes made the recommendation after noting that the property, located at 30-40 W. Broad Street, has been vacant for four to six years.A leaking roof forced the City to close three businesses located at the site. He added that a blighted designation might provide a loan advantage to its new owner.

That new owner is Bethlehem- Boyd LP.  The members of this limited partnership include Charles C. Jefferson, a prominent real estate investor from Philadelphia; and Duane A. Wagner, a Lehigh Valley real estate advisor. The propertry was transferred on New Year's Eve and is encumbered by a $1.18 million mortgage to People's Security Bank and Trust.

Interestingly, Wagner is also associated with developer Lewis Ronca, and was involved in much of the communicatrions with Bethlehem City staffers that led to a new zoning ordinance at the Martin Tower development.

It has been speculated that City officials were willing to give Martin Tower favorable zoning in exchange for Ronca's agreement to transfer a CRIZ designation for a portion of his 52-acre development. That CRIZ designation enables Ronca to uses state sales and income taxes to finance development.

At a December news conference, Mayor Donchez specifically denied that there was deal to give Ronca favorable zoning in exchange for a few CRIZ acres.

The Boyd was first established in 1921. It became known as The Boyd Theatre in 1934.It has been closed since 2011.

Under Pennsylvania law, a blight designation is the first step in a long process that could lead to taking over the property.

Other properties declared blighted by the Planning Commission are 1515 E 6th St, 635 Fifth Ave, 816 E. 5th St, 704 Wyandotte St and 3681 Township Line Rd.

Updated 1:17 pm

Mayor, DCED Director, Decline Planning Comm'n Invitation

Before he stepped down as Chair of Bethlehem's Planning Commission at their January 14 meeting, Attorney Jim Fiorentino invited Mayor Bob Donchez and Community and Economic Development Director Alicia Karner to appear and explain the "exact nature" of their discussions with Martin Tower developer Lew Ronca. But neither Mayor Donchez nor Karner accepted. In an email, Mayor Donchez said he already disclosed the "exact nature" of that relationship in numerous documents that he previously provided in both a news conference and at a subsequent City Council meeting. Fiorentino, who saw those documents, chided the administration for failing to be completely honest.

Planning Director Darlene Heller, who serves as Secretary to the Planning Commission, defended her role."I don't think we tried in any way to hide the fact that we were talking to developers," she explained. "You could have told us the full story about the developer's intent," responded Fiorentino. In December, he canceled a Planning Commission meeting when The Bethlehem Press revealed that there had been detailed communications between Ronca and City staffers before the City proposed zoning changes at the 52-acre Martin Tower development. This was learned as a result of a Right-to-Know request.

Louis Stellato, a former City Council member who voted for these zoning changes and was appointed to the Planning Commission earlier this month, dismissed Fiorentino's concerns about process. "I don't know how many more times we have to count the chads, the issue is done," he said.

Except it isn't. Bethlehem City Council has been sued in a land use appeal alleging defects in the referrals to the Planning Commission.

After this discussion, Fiorentino nominated Rob Melosky to succeed him. Melosky, a Nazareth teacher has proven himself to be a very attentive Planning Commissioner since his appointment in 2012. He also is offensive coordinator for Central Catholic's football program. Melosky was elected unanimously.

Matthew Malozi, a manager at engineering and planning firm RETTEW, was unanimously elected as Vice Chair.

Heller, despite the earlier squabble, was unanimously retained as the Planning Commission's Secretary.

Martin Tower Rezoning leads to Lehigh County Land Use Appeal

Bethlehem City Council's controversial rezoning of the 52-acre Martin Tower is supposed to jump start development at the long vacant site, including the possible demolition of the iconic 21-story former Bethlehem Steel headquarters. While City official wait for a master plan, they've been greeted by something else - a lawsuit. Two Downtown Historic Bethlehem businesses have been joined by one South side business and four families to file a land use appeal of the rezoning decision. Filed in Lehigh County Court on January 13, the lawsuit is a procedural challenge to the new zoning ordinance.

Distinguished land use and zoning attorney Marc Kaplin, who maintains a practice in Blue Bell, filed the land use appeal on behalf of Hotel Bethlehem, Donegal Square, the Taylor Family Gas Station and residents Rocco and Electra D'Amato, Steven and Barbara Diamond, Clint and Sonia Walker, Deni Thurman-Eyer and Robert Romeril.

According to the 196-page filing, two critical errors doomed the zoning ordinance, which was adopted by City Council by a 6-1 vote at their December 15, 2015 meeting. First, Planning Director Darlene Heller made changes to the ordinance on August 28, 2015, which were transmitted to Council without review by the Planning Commission. Second, after City Council itself proposed some amendments to the ordinance, Heller failed to provide those changes to the Planning Commission at least 30 days in advance of a hearing.

According to the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), amendments proposed by a governing body like City Council must be submitted to the Planning Commission at least 30 days in advance of a hearing. They must also be provided with changes unilaterally made by the Planning Director.

Because the City failed to follow the procedural requirements set forth in the MPC, Attorney Kaplin argued that the ordinance adopted on December 15 is void on its face.

You can read the Complaint here.

RIP Bill Coker

One of my favorite persons is a former Nazareth resident named Bill Coker who moved to sunnier climes in South Carolina a few years ago. Unfortunately, Bill passed away on Sunday.

I first got to know Bill in what seems like a lifetime ago. My grandson, who was then about four or five, was already a sports nut. I am not. I took him to the baseball diamond at the Green Street Park in Nazareth, where I had hoped to teach him everything I know about baseball. That took about three seconds and was all wrong. But suddenly, Dat was joined by a small army of older kids who knew a lot more than I did, and were willing to share. Two of these kids were Bill Coker's grandsons, Shane and Doug. Bill's son Doug and Bill himself would join in as well. My grandson ended up spending the rest of the dasy paying pick up baseball with these kids, or whatever else they had in mind.

The next day, he insisted that his mother take him back to the park. "My team needs me," he insisted. So she did, and as it happens, these older kids were happy to see Dat and made him one of their own.  They played everything. Baseball. Football. Running bases. Manhunt.

One of the big reasons my grandson became so athletic was ther encouragement he received at a vey young from the Cokers.

When Nazareth's fearless leaders embarked on a scheme to destroy the Green Street Park for an expansion of the municipal building, Bill was among the many who joined Lori Bernardo's winning fight against it. He circulated petitions among hundreds of residents, spoke at meetings and was one of those who saved the park for the kids.

Though a slight guy, Bill himself was quite athletic, too. He was a hockey player and official, and actually trained Tony Iannelli to be a hockey ref.

When I started blogging, Bill was among my first readers and most regular commenters. He always encouraged my, even when he disagrred with my take.

For years, Bill had wanted to move to South Carolina, and finally did so a few short years ago. I know he loved it down there, especailly loved the lower tax bill.

Unfortunately, guys like Bill end up in heaven. I'll be somewhere else when my time comes, catching up with old friends. Hope Bill can call to say Hi.

City Council To Ask Fed Ed To Resign

Informed sources tell me that Allentown City Council will seek Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski's at their next meeting. Though he is presumed innocent and has not yet been charged, he no longer has the ability to govern. His legal problems are consuming the City. It is my understanding that all seven members of City Council, including ardent supporters like Candida Affa, think it best for Fed Ed to step aside.

Allentown Health Director Tapped to head DCED

Informed sources tell me that Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski has tapped Health Director Vicky Kistler to head up the City's Department of Community and Economic Development, which was recently vacated by Sara Hailstone. A few years ago, he also put her in charge of the Parks Department as an interim director. She has proven to be a good Pawlowski soldier, and I'll have more about that next week.

Updated: Koval Charged in Conspiracy To Deprive Allentown of Honest Services

Koval, with Fed Ed,  Robert Glazier and Candida Affa
at a Boyle parking deck ribbon cutting

Former Allentown Controller Mary Ellen Koval was spotted going into the federal building on Wednesday in Allentown, carrying a large box. When she left two hours later, the box was gone. Federal authorities are obviously interested in what's inside that box. But not enough to deter them from charging her for her role in the Queen City public corruption scandal.She was charged yesterday with conspiracy to deprive the citizens of their right to honest services through bribery and kickbacks. She is expected to enter a guilt plea today.

Her attorney may call her a "very classy lady," but an information filed by the United States Attorney brands Koval as a member of a conspiracy that "employed countersurveillance maneuvers and obstructed justice by, among other things, making false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents conducting a federal criminal investigation into the relationship between campaign contributions and official action in the City of Allentown."

Though a Controller is required to exercise independent oversight, prosecutors charge that Koval relied on Fed Ed "for political support, including campaign contributions and appointments to boards, commissions, and authorities which exercised actual and perceived authority over individuals and entities in the City of Allentown." After her election, he appointed her to the Allentown Parking Authority.

It's no secret that he raised the money for her 2011 race against Republican Lou Hershman. This included $6,300 from trade unions looking for construction work; $500 from Sean Boyle consultant Sovereign Enterprises; $100 from NIZ King J.B. Reilly; $250 from Boyle Ventures.

Koval is linked to giving one unnamed company a competitive advantage for a contract with the Allentown Parking Authority, which she also headed. The Morning Call has identified this company, called "Donor No. 1," as Jack Rosen, a top Obama fundraiser

Koval at a Boyle groundbreaking, with Candida Affa
and Robert Glazier, both now members of City Council. .

The other unnamed company, identified only as "Donor No. 2," could be Boyle Construction, a major Ed Pawlowski contributor. In September 2014, Boyle was awarded a contract for a 7-level, 1,000-car parking lot, near the hockey arena, with an estimated $22.5 million budget. Boyle was previously awarded a $3.4 million contract for renovations to the former Hess' Parking deck. In an email sent late in 2014, Koval apparently dunned this company for contributions.

In fairness to Sean Boyle, I should note that his firm has been associated with many quality public projects, including the Freemansburg Police Station and the Bethlehem Visitors' Center. He has strongly denied even being questioned by the FBI.

Koval is also linked to entrepreneur Ramzi Haddad, who has already entered a guilty plea.

This information also charges that she and Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski lied to federal investigators when they questioned him on July 2, 2015. "On or about July 2, 2015, in order to conceal and continue the conspiracy, Public Official #3 [Fed Ed] made materially false statements to FBI agents who were investigating the conspiracy. For example, Public Official #3 falsely denied knowing whether he had received campaign contributions from Donor #1’s company or its principals when in fact, two days earlier, as Public Official #3 well knew, Donor #1 had donated and bundled tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, which were transferred to Public Official #3’s federal campaign via interstate wires, including the Internet."

Review of Koval's campaign finance reveals little in the way of direct contributions to her in 2015. Most of the money went to Fed Ed. In 2015, she received $4000 from trade unions; $250 from State Rep. Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg; $250 from State Rep. Pete Schweyer; and $325 from Citizens for a Better Allentown.

Blogger's Note: First Published 1/13/16, at 3:49 pm.

Updated 1/14/16, 2:40 PM: Donor No. 2 Could Also Be McTish and Kunkel. - I have speculated that Donor No. 2 could be Boyle Constructionj, but a source closer to this investigation than I am tells me Donor No. 2 is actually engineering firm McTish and Kunkel. I don't know whether that is so, but do know that former State Rep. Jennifer Mann represents Matt McTish and his firm in Harrisburg and also doubles doing market development work for the firm in the area. Matt McTish was also ass deep in the whole Turnpike scandal a few years ago. He comes by his aggressive political style quite, dare I say, 'honestly.'

Brown's First Two Years in Office

Exec John Brown

NorCo Exec John Brown headlined yesterday's news conference about improvements in the County's Central Booking System. He should be lauded for his efforts her. His efforts ensure that police officers making arrests are back on the streets as soon as possible. But Brown also took the opportunity to summarize his first two years in office. He's pleased at what he's accomplaished.

After it was all over, I saw Bethlehem Attorney Lamont McClure, who was in a recess while trying a case. He has a completely different view of Brown's first two years in office.

Below is Brown's statement and McClure's response. Feel free to add your own assessment.

John Brown: "When I came into office two years ago, the naysayers were very vocal that it is impossible to change County Government so why bother. They were espedcially vocal that Gracedale and the Jail could not be improved.

"My asministration has been committed to improving County government. I am happy to report that in the last two years my administration has been able to generate the following results:

"1. We are on track for the second year in a row that our performance is revenue neutral.

"2. We are on track to have eliminated deficit spending for the second year in a row.

"3. We have tripled the County's general fund balance,  returning over $37 million to the general fund.

"4. Our 2016 approved budget is flat relative to 2015 despite absorbing many cost increases.

"5. Gracedale has had an operating loss of over $6 million per year, but is on track to see a reduction in operation loss of $4 million or come in under $2 million."

Lamont McClure: "I'm uncertain as to why the County Executive found it necessary to discuss his overall record at a press conference announcing improvements to central booking, surrounded by uniformed police officers.Clearly to my mind, this was a staged photo opportunity meant to paper over and whitewash Brown's thus far disastrous tenure in office. He's consistently misled the public, both as a candidate and as Executive, about the County's finances. Further, he;s wasted and attempted to waste tax dollars on unnecessary consultants. Finally, he has made war unnecessarily on the hard-working civil servants emplyed by the County."

On the left sidebar, I have a poll asking you to grade John Brown on his fiorst two years in office.

Central Booking Change Returns Cops to Patrol

L to R: Corrections Director Dan Keen; Palmer Police Chief Larry Palmer;
Magisterial District judge Jim Narlesky; and Magisterial District Judge Richard Yetter.

When a person is arrested and charged with a serious offense, he is taken to a central booking station, located next to the jail. Arresting officers have been required to wait as the accused is processed, which usually takes between two and four hours. With 2,000* bookings per year, this is roughly 4,000-8,000 man hours. This is an incredible drain on smaller departments like Bangor, and sometimes means there is no one to patrol the streets. As Bangor's Mayor, this is a problem that bothered John Brown, who noticed that a police officer who made an arrest would be tied up at the booking center for most of his shift. As County Executive, it's a problem he's been able to fix, thanks to a group of county and local officials who worked together to streamline the process.

At a January 13 news conference attended by enough police brass to form a marching band, Brown announced changes to the central booking system that will get police officers back on the street within 30 minutes. Essentially, jail staff will assume responsibility for inmates at an earlier stage. According to Corrections Director Dan Keen, this is a revenue neutral change that will cause no increase in jail manpower or staff.

The nuts and bolts of this new approach were screwed together by Keen, Sheriff David Dalrymple, Easton Police Chief carl Scalzo and Palmer Police Chief Larry Palmer.

Though Palmer supervises one of Northampton County's larger police departments, he conservatively estimates that his officers are tied up 15-20 hours a month at central booking. This creates what he calls "gaps in police coverage."

President Judge Stephen Baratta called this solution "good government at the local level," and was pleased at the amount of cooperation between different governments and police departments. In his view this streamlining addresses complaints about public safety,reduces stress on magisterial District Judges and ended up costing the County nothing. "I give the administration a lot of credit," he announced, adding that he and brown have a "good working relationship."

Magisterial District Judge Jim Narlesky assured everyone that defendants will still have a prompt preliminary arraignment. But how will he know what bail to set? That question was answered by magisterial District Judge Richard Yetter, who has been working as night judge for the past week.

He stated officers fill out a short background on each person brought in, including prior convictions and other factors to be considered in determining bail. If there is a pressing issue, he will contact pretrial services or the arresting officer.

Northampton County has used central booking since 2007. In a brief tour of the facility, it appears there are two holding cells and a separate room where a defendant can speak to the magisterial District Judge.

What if it gets crowded?

"We've got plenty of room next door," said Deputy Warden David Penchishen, as he was searched before being admitted to central booking.

He stated everyone is searched.

No exceptions.

By the way, it's hard as hell to get in there, although Judge Dally told me later in the day that he could get me in there real fast.

You ring some buzzer and then wait 20-30 years for the gate to open. I stood outside with another reporter and we both froze our asses off as we waited.

I'm pretty sure I heard the bastards inside, laughing at us.

Every now and then, it sounded as though the gate was about to open, but then there'd be nothing. ... Except what I'm sure was laughter.

Thankfully, it was a lot easier to leave.

But not for Penchishen. He was on his way to another entrance, where he'd be searched again. "I'm setting an example," he told me.

I slipped my dip into his back pocket.



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* Rudy Miller's account indicates there were 4,000 bookings in 2014, which is also what is claimed in a news release. Executive Brown's statement indicates there are 2,000 bookings per year. According to Administration sources, the 4,000 figure includes walk-ins. Brown's figure is limited to those who are brought in by police and hence is more accurate in this context.

Bethlehem Tp Adds Three Police Officers

Officer Gretchen Kraemer

From Bethlehem Township: Bethlehem Township has added three new police officers to its ranks. Gretchen Kraemer, Andrew Kanaskie, and Larissa Regetto have been hired by the Board of Commissioners after a year-long Civil Service process which included a written exam, physical agility test, and oral interview.

Officer Kanaskie graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from DeSales University and received his Act 120 Municipal Police certification training at the Allentown Police Academy.

Officer Regetto graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from Northampton County Community College and received her Act 120 Municipal Police certification training at the Montgomery County Community College Police Academy.

Officers Andrew Kanaskie (L) and Larissa Regetto (R).
Chief Pancoast is the thorn between two roses.  

Officer Kraemer served with the City of Bethlehem Police Department from 2009-2012 and with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department from 2012-2015. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at DeSales.

Kraemer, Kanaskie, and Regetto have all been sworn in to the Bethlehem Township Police Department and given a commitment to protect and serve the Bethlehem Township community. They are currently completing 12 weeks of Department field training before being assigned to regular patrol duties.

“The hiring of Kraemer and Reggeto will mark the first time that two women will have worked for the Department at the same time as the Bethlehem Township Police Department celebrates the 50th anniversary of its inception,” said Bethlehem Township Chief of Police Dan Pancoast.

The Republicans' Kane Strategy

Republican AG candidate John Rafferty was in town over the weekend. He's also a state senator, and told a group of fellow Republicans why Kathleen Kane is still in office. It's because that's where Republicans want her. They don't want her to drown until she does as much damage as can possibly be done to Democrats seeking office this year.

Morganelli and Martin Team Up on Digital Forensics Lab

Lehiogh County DA Jim Martin and NorCo DA are both excellent prosecutors with completely different styles. Morganelli is a litigator who likes to try his own cases and send messages to the bad guys with effective and quick justices. Martin is more of an administrator, but has proactively developed numerous task forces, a regional crime center and a digital forensics lab.

With Martin at his side, Morganelli announced yesterday that Northampton County is signing on to the digital forensics lab, located at DeSales University. Martin established this lab in 2011 with funding from a memorial foundation set up in honor of Upper Saucon Police Officer David M Pezold, who lost his life in the line of duty.

In Northampton County, when police want to analyze cell phones or computers, the items are shipped off to the state police, which has a current backlog of eleven months. With that kind of delay, the dated information becomes far less valuable. But according to crime lab manager Paul Iannace, that backlog is one month or less at the DeSales lab. In addition to two full-time employees, the lab is manned by interns from various colleges, as well as police officers. "From harassment to homicide, we can investigate it all.

Martin has made these services available when Northampton County police officers have asked for help. BUT Morganelli has now agreed to help fund the operation with $40,000 per year, and several Easton police officers have volunteered to assist in operating the lab. Martin will retain overall control.

Martin called the arrangement a "win-win for everyone in the law enforcement community."

Though the two counties are working together on a digital forensic lab, Northampton County has yet to commit to the Regional Crime Center, which has been credited for solving several homicides and other crimes. Martin believes a regional crime center is the most sensible approach to a transient criminal community whose crimes dot along the thruways in both counties.

When he was Sheriff, Randy Miller actually opposed the regional crime center. Morganelli has been concerned about cost, but supports the concept and would be happy to see it funded from the $1.2 million in table games revenue that flow into county coffers every year.

Blogger's Note: I have copyrighted the above picture of Jim Martin.

Central Squeaks By Easton in OT, 59-54

On paper, this should have been a blow-out. Easton has won only three games this season. Central's young boys basketball team is 10-4 and is on a four-game winning streak, with big wins against Allen and Nazareth. But nobody told the Rovers they were supposed to lose, and they came out on fire. I noticed this in the JV game, in which Central was stunned. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Varsity was just as pumped.

Central lost the first, second and third quarters. It's been hampered by the loss of sophomore Shack DeZonie. Recuperating from a concussion, he's had to sit out the last two games and may have to sit out one or two more before he's cleared. Central could have used him last night.

In the end, what saved Central were Aiden Elwood's 3s (he had 5 of them) and Zay Jennings' free throws (14 for 16). In addition, both of these players were big on rebounds (Zay had five and Aiden had 6). Tim Susko also galvanized the team with a crucial steal, three rebounds and a crucial free throw.

Free throws by Dat Lambert and Zay Jennings in OT iced the game.

Dat had quite a few fans last night. His mom and sister are his biggest fans, but two of my friends came to watch him and Central play tonight. NorCo Fiscal Affairs Director Jim Hunter, who claims to be an Easton fan, has been spotted with a Central finger.

Central plays 9-4 Northampton on Saturday in what should be a barn burner. Easton plays Northampton on Thursday and hopefully, will soften them up.

According to the January 11 rating by LVBasketballRankings, the top 15 LV basketball schools are as follows: 1) Parkland; 2) Pocono Mtn West; 3) Emmaus; 4) Salisbury; 5) Whitehall; 6) Allentown Central Catholic; 7) Allen; 8) Bethlehem Catholic; 9) Liberty; 10) Northampton; 11) Freedom; 12) Southern Lehigh; 13) Nazareth; 14) Stroudsburg; and 15) Bangor. Nazareth has had the biggest drop, from #5 to #13.

Blogger's Note: I shot what I thought was a great video of Easton's terrific band. But my fat finger blocked the view. In the meantime, here's a shot that Dat's friend Danny took of him during the Dieruff game.

Louis Hershman Should Replace Mary Ellen Koval

Before being sworn into office, Allentown Controller Mary Ellen Koval submitted her resignation. It was submitted exactly one week ago. She's scheduled to admit her own responsibility in Fed ED's chicanery later this week. Though I'm much more interested in the investigation than in who replaces Koval, that question is one that Allentown's new City Council is going to have to face.

According to the City's Home Rule Charter, "If the office of the City Controller becomes vacant for any reason, Council shall appoint an interim City Controller, of the same political party, who shall serve until the next Municipal Election." Unlike other offices, Council is under no obligation to act within 30 days. There also is no provision for seeking judicial relief if Council fails to act. So despite the use of the mandatory word "shall," the provision is actually precatory. Council may appoint a Controller, if it so chooses. But there is no remedy should it fail to act.

Must the office be filled by a Democrat?  I say No. Though Mary Ellen Koval is certainly a Democrat, she resigned from an office she never held. She never took the oath and assumed office  So I would argue there has been a vacancy since January 1, 2016, and since no one has held the office, it could be given to a person from any political party.

Should Steve Ramos get the job because he came in second? I've seen defeated candidates appointed to Council vacancies on the strength of the argument that they cared enough to run for the job. But I've seen more bounced on the argument that a majority of the voters has already rejected them.

The best candidate for this job is the person who held it for 24 years. He's someone who would have blown the whistle from the inside because he's certainly been raising red flags as a private citizen.

This person is Louis Hershman, whom you can see at just about every Council meeting.

He's not a former secretary to the mayor, but is an actual accountant whose practice includes thousands of local residents.

Though Hershman is nominally a Republican, I'd argue he should change parties if that makes him more acceptable to Council. That's his call, but I honestly think these offices should all be nonpartisan.

NorCo DA Calls Mental Health Court a Success

After being in business for a year, Northampton County DA John Morganelli is calling the County's fledgling mental health court a success. During that time, 43 people applied for admission. only nine have been approved both by the DA and the Courts. Eight cases are still under consideration.

There's reason to be cautious. This is a diversionary program. A person who makes it through this program will be rewarded with a dismissal of the charges. When the court was first established, the hope was that it would provide classic mental health treatment and housing opportunities.

Like the Mental Health Court, Drug Court is another problem solving court that got its start in Northampton County last year. That is a post-conviction court.

Do these courts just add costs? Advocates argue that they actually save money. Every person kept out of jail saves the County $100 per day. State programs and private insurance bear much of the cost. According to a study prepared by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, every dollar invested in a drug court saves taxpayers $3.36 in criminal justice costs alone. Most importantly, 75% of drug court graduates never see another pair of handcuffs.

President Judge Stephen Baratta and Judge Craig Dally are the driving force behind these innovations.

DA Report on Mental Health Court

Inky: Trooper Who Led Frein Manhunt Demoted

The PSP trooper who led the manhunt for Eric Frein has been demoted, according to the Inky. It appears that the demotion is political, too.

Lt. Col. George Bivens was demoted and reassigned by Governor Wolf's new choice to head the state police, Tyree Blocker.

According to this news source, Bivens is quite popular and well-regarded by the PSP's front-line officers.

Wolf is not.

2012 Home Invasion Features Familiar NorCo Name

On Friday, I told you about a 2012 Lower Saucon home invasion which charges have been filed against one of the four assailant. Interestingly, no charges have been filed against the alleged mastermind, Michael Radogna. He is presumed innocent. But his is one of the more interesting families in Northampton County.

His father, Michael Anthony Radogna, is the erstwhile leader of the "Mountain Dogs" klavern of the Ku Klux Klan. In 1989, he planned to conduct a July 4 rally at his Williams Township home on Island Park Road, complete with a cross-burning. I don't know if the rally ever occurred, bit I used to drive by the property when visiting my parents, and my brother worked at the chemical company next door. There were always strange signs. In 1990, state police found a huge wooden cross burning near his property, though Radogna denied he had anything to do with it.

In 1991, Radogna was Easton Mayor for a day after placing the winning bid in a charity auction conduted on public television.

I'm pretty sure I actually met this guy in 1992, when he was passing out KKK flyers in the Nazareth circle. I tore mine to pieces and threw it to the ground, only to be accused of littering.

Radogna, an avid motorcyclist and marijuana advocate, no longer lives in the area. According to his Facebook page, he now lives in Western Florida.

In addition to the father, there's Uncle John, as in John Vito Radogna. At age 69, he's a resident of State Correctional Institute Huntingdon. John was convicted of killing a man in a 1979 road rage dispute, and sentenced to 26 years. The gun he used had been stolen from deputy sheriffs during an escape from jail. He escaped from jail six times. The last time he escaped, it was when he was released from state prison to attend his father's funeral. Then Sheriff Ken Stocker was forced to resign after that escape. John was caught a month later in Fort Lauderdale.

In the meantime, Michael Radogna was carving a different path for himself in law enforcement. He became a part-time police officer in Wilson Borough and also worked on the Coopersburg force.

He visited South America to learn about coffee, and when he returned, formed Mocha Mike's.At one tome, he had several coffee kiosks throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Radogna's wife Carin is the widow of Easton police officer Jesse Sollman, who was accidentally killed when officers were cleaning their weapons. She settled with Easton for $5 million in 2009.  In 2011, she had the names of her children changed from Sollman to Radogna.

Her Facebook page, which was active on Thursday, appears to be offline.

Allentown Crime Analyst Hired For NorCo HR

Northampton County's new Director of Human Resources, Amy Trapp, has an arduous task in front of her. She is responsible for 11 different union contracts in the County's 2,200-person workforce. She's walked into a department that has performed no job studies in recent years and has to be careful about stepping on the toes of independently elected officials like DA John Morganelli or President Judge Steve Baratta. Yet she seems to be everywhere, is amiable and attends every Council meeting.

Late Sunday afternoon*, Trapp announced her first real hire. Michael Twining, currently a crime analyst in Allentown, has been named her Deputy Director. His focus will be operations and technology.

"Our goal is to streamline services and processes to the field," she explained. "This will allow Human Resources to assist managers and employees as well as find ways for HR to reduce paperwork and maximize organizational efficiency and support."

Trapp stole Twining from Allentown, where she was once HR Director. I just hope she doesn't hire Fed Ed.

A 2003 grad of DeSales, Twining spent nearly five years in the U.S. Army as an M.P. In 2003, he was hired as Allentown's 911 training coordinator in Allentown. For the past six years, he's been a crime analyst. He has represented nonunion workers in Alentown, and spoke on Trap's behalf at her confirmation hearing.

Twining's salary is in the mid '70s, about $10,000 less than the person he replaced. He is an "at will" hire, meaning he serves at the pleasure of the Executive.

I looked for dirt on this guy, as is my habit. I discovered he's a Bills' fan, so he obviously has deep-seated mental issues .

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* Yes, that is late Sunday afternoon, to those of you who call public sector workers lazy goldbrickers.