Pet Owners Are Releasing Small Alligators

A western Pennsylvania legislator whose district drew national attention for alligator sightings this past summer has a bill to try and curtail those problems.

There have been several instances of alligators turning up in the Lehigh Valley over the years.
In December 2021, a small alligator was pulled from the Lehigh River. The 3-foot reptile was found at Kimmett’s Lock in east Allentown.
A teen fisherman in June 2016 found a similarly sized gator in the Lehigh Canal in Allentown.
In late July, kayakers on the Kiski River spotted a 4-foot-long alligator on the shore and watched it slip into the water. The gator eluded searchers for over a week before being caught and handed over to a Pittsburgh-area reptile rescue non-profit.
Several weeks later, a smaller alligator was seen by kayakers near Apollo, Armstrong County, but they were unable to catch it. By all accounts, it remains on the loose.
Early last month, police seized nine alligators from a Kiski Township home near the river after they escaped and began roaming the neighborhood, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"A Christmas Cinderella" will play at Star of the Day, December 1-3, 2023.

With a fresh take on this classic tale of a young woman who is transformed from chambermaid to a princess, this holiday twist serves up heartfelt warmth, humor, and magic! We invite audience members young and young-at-heart to celebrate the holidays with Cinderella, her cheese-loving friends, and of course Santa!

Gabriella Montero, who plays the title character, is a student at Lower Macungie Middle School and has performed with Star of the Day and other Lehigh Valley theatres over the past several years. Rounding out the cast is Cameron Smith as Prince Charming, Isabella Robbins as The Fairy Godmother, Mia Moyer as the Stepmother, Olivia Davison and Isabella Oviedo as the evil stepsisters, Beckett Schuster as the King, Matthew Oviedo as the King's courier, Jack Ruch and Giana Jachowicz as the Narrators, Kadence Metter, Korina Doundas, Vega Rivas Alarcon, Nick Ruch as the mice. The show is directed by Kirsten Almeida, Stage Managed by Kyleigh Vicoso, and classroom instructors Krista Metter and Emma Fliszar.

Tickets are on sale to the public for $15. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting staroftheday.org or at the Star of the Day box office the day of the show 30 minutes prior to showtime. Group sales of 10 or more are available by contacting [email protected]. Star of the Day performs at St. John's UCC, 139 N. 4th Street, Emmaus, PA 18049. The building is accessible and free parking is available.

20-Year-old Kills 72-Year-old Grandmother in High-Speed Car Crash

A 20-year-old individual was charged with homicide by vehicle and associated offenses following a tragic high-speed collision involving two cars, resulting in the loss of a grandmother from Northampton County, as announced by authorities.

The victim, 72-year-old Paula Ann Wilson of Lower Saucon Township, was driving her black 2007 Ford Explorer with her 7-year-old granddaughter on board when their SUV was struck by another car traveling at an estimated speed of around 90 mph. The incident occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, September 14, in Franconia Township, Montgomery County.

Wilson was unresponsive and had to be extricated from the wreckage before being transported to Grand View Hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m., according to the Franconia police department. Wilson's granddaughter, who was properly restrained, was rescued from the car by bystanders and also taken to the hospital in Sellersville for treatment of scrapes and bruises.

The collision took place as the Ford was exiting a residential driveway onto Mininger Road. The vehicle was struck by a black 2008 Dodge Charger SRT traveling west at a high speed, causing the Ford to roll over before coming to a stop upright on the side of the road near the intersection with Milburn Court.

The driver of the Dodge was identified as Logan Parker Dierkes from Hatfield in Montgomery County. Despite sustaining head and other injuries, Dierkes managed to exit the wrecked sedan on his own. He was subsequently transported to Grand View and stabilized.

Emmaus Football Avenges Previous Losses to Freedom

In six of the past seven years, Freedom had brought an end to the Emmaus High School football team's season. However, this time, the outcome was different. On Friday night, the fifth-seeded Green Hornets fought fiercely, securing a 19-14 victory over fourth-seeded Freedom in the Districts subregional quarterfinals at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

The turning point of the game occurred when the Patriots drove 77 yards, taking the lead at 14-13 with just 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Emmaus didn't back down. They responded with a determined seven-play, 71-yard drive. Josiah Williams, who also threw the game-winning touchdown, connected with Jerek Cooper for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 8:43 left in the contest, putting the Green Hornets ahead for good.

In the crucial moments of the fourth quarter, the Green Hornets' defense stepped up, forcing a turnover on downs at their own 33-yard line with 6:55 remaining. Emmaus managed to earn a couple of first downs before punting the ball back to Freedom. A well-placed punt by Williams pinned Freedom down at their own 1-yard line with 2:54 left.

Freedom made an attempt to march down the field, completing three consecutive passes and reaching their 32-yard line. However, Emmaus' defensive back Jah’khi Daves sealed the victory with a remarkable one-handed interception.

Key players for Emmaus included Williams, who not only threw the game-winning touchdown but also rushed for 59 yards and a score. Cooper completed 9 of 16 passes for 125 yards, and wide receiver Cole Moreau caught four passes for 73 yards. Additionally, Hornets lineman Mario Landino was a disruptive force in the trenches for the Emmaus defense.

This victory held great significance for Emmaus, breaking their streak of postseason disappointments against Freedom. With a record of 6-5, the Hornets will now face top-seeded Parkland in the district semifinals next week. Parkland, with a flawless 11-0 record, had dominated Williamsport in the quarterfinals with a 56-0 win and had previously defeated Emmaus 41-17 last week.

Emmaus’ Remarkable Field Hockey Team Wins Title Again

The top-seeded Green Hornets defeated third-seeded Parkland 3-0 in the District 11 Class 3A final. The victory gives Emmaus its 35th straight district title, adding to the most impressive active streak in Lehigh Valley high school sports.

On Saturday, senior superstar Melea Weber sent a long drive forward that found junior Emmy Horner in transition. Horner sent the ball across the face of the goal, and freshman Gracie Huffer scored to put Emmaus ahead 1-0 after just 70 seconds of play.

The Hornets (22-1) added to their tally about five minutes later, though not without controversy. Senior Autumn Held was credited with a goal after redirecting a shot by Weber. The ball, however, hit the side – not the back – of the cage. Parkland lined up ready to restart play in their defensive end, but after the officials conferenced, they awarded Emmaus its second score.

Emmaus’ third goal was much more straightforward. The Hornets got the ball to the end line before sending it to Weber. The University of North Carolina recruit’s blast made it 3-0 with 3:21 left in the opening period. Horner registered her second assist of the afternoon.

Emmaus will meet the third-place team from District 1, Methacton, on Tuesday.

Really?

Say What?

In 2011 a couple hunting on a remote mountain in Sweden’s northern province of Jaemtland were surprised to find 70 pairs of shoes spread out in the snow. The 140 shoes—ranging from high heels and tap shoes to kids’ and men’s sneakers—were each filled with about a pound of butter. Officials have no suspects.

Groan a Bit

THE STUDENTS who toured the SevenUp factory should have known there’d be a pop quiz.

EINSTEIN DEVELOPED a theory about space, and it was about time, too.

WOULD YOU like this dead battery? It’s free of charge.

THE SOLDIER who survived attacks of mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

I WAS UP all night looking for the sun. Then it dawned on me.

I WONDERED why the rock was getting larger. Then it hit me.

November 03