The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 21

POLICE NEWS Weisenberg Township offers a historical treasure tour 2 XV 1776 HISTORICAL TRAIL 2 ir BETHLEHEM Boy rescued after fall into 12-foot hole An 8-year-old Bethlehem boy was rescued after getting stuck in a 12-foot-deep hole on Conrail property Tuesday afternoon. The boy told police he was walking on a wall around 4:30 p.m. near the old Conrail roundhouse in the city when he slipped and slid into the hole. Police responded to reports of cries for help and pulled the boy out with the help of the Bethlehem Fire Department and Bethlehem Ambulance. The boy slightly injured two fingers on his left hand and was released to his mother, who refused medical treatment for him.

Police have notified Conrail of the incident. BETHLEHEM Man's leg is injured in motorcycle crash A Bethlehem man was seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident in Bethlehem Wednesday night. Adam Bash was flown by MedEvac to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, for a severe leg injury, Bethlehem police said. Bash's condition was not available. Bash's motorcycle collided with a car on Stefko Boulevard at about 10 p.m., police said.

At press time, police were still investigating the accident. FAMOUS JViV. 1814 4 i 1 wtfm 11 New signs guide drivers to visit 31 sites along a self-guided trip down memory lane. More detailed maps are the next project. By ELIZABETH BARTOLAI Special to The Morning Call Want to see the site of a 1926 shootout, homes and churches built in the 1700s and roads built in the 1800s? Hop in the car and head out to bucolic Weisenberg Township for a bit of exploration and history.

Just in time for the summer driving season, 31 new signs proclaiming the township's historical sites are in place for a self-guided driving tour. Raymond Rosenberger, chairman of the township's environmental advisory council, erected a sign marking a Pennsylvania Dutch barn in New Smithville Wednesday. He advises stopping in Weisenberg Township's municipal building along Seipstown Road for a map before attempting the tour. "Believe me, you'll get lost in the township," he said. The maps are part of a book called "The History of Weisenberg Township." Township Administrator Reynold Reinert said one of the township community information guides could be used in place of the tour's historical map.

Wednesday's sign placement culminated several months of work that began when advisory council members noticed the old signs were unreadable. After township supervisors approved the I TOWNSHIP of WEISENBERG it TOM VOLK The Morning Call Raymond Rosenberger installs the last Weisenberg Township historical marker. project, the old signs were removed and new signs were made at a cost of $51 each. Rosenberger erected 30 of the 31 signs himself. The new signs are made from special plywood that is expected to weather better than the old ones.

The environmental group's next project is to update the driving tour map that was created to celebrate the nation's bicentennial two decades ago. "We want to get a bigger map so they can actually see the roads," he said. Lehigh chiefs consider contracts County may close lab, upgrade computers. By DAN HARTZELL Of The Morning Call LOWER SAUCON TWP. Police chase, arrest Allentown motorist A 31-year-old Allentown man was arrested on 11 counts after leading police on a chase through two communities early Wednesday.

Mica Raymond Kincaid of 606 S. Carlton St. nearly struck a Lower Saucon Township police car at about 1:25 a.m. and fled when police tried to stop him, according to police reports. Lower Saucon police pursued Kincaid into Bethlehem, where he was stopped at Sullivan and Hayes streets.

Bethlehem police assisted in the arrest. Kincaid is charged with reckless endangerment, fleeing police, reckless driving and assorted traffic violations. QUAKERTOWN Police charge teen set off smoke bombs A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly set off two smoke bombs in a hall at Quakertown Community High School on Park Avenue in Quaker-town, according to borough police. The boy, whom police did not identify, will be petitioned to Bucks County Juvenile Court on risking a catastrophe and other charges. According to police, the bombs were set off about 8 a.m.

Wednesday. No one was hurt, police said, but students became alarmed and fled the smoke, which quickly dissipated. The juvenile was released to his parents' custody. SLATE BELT 18-year-old charged in car chase, trespass A Bushkill Township man was arraigned Wednesday on charges he led police on a chase from Bangor to Pen Argyl in late April. Gary Angelo Benedetti, 18, of 520 Sexton Road, appeared before District Justice Adrianne Masut of Wind Gap on a host of charges, including two counts each of aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment, disorderly conduct and accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property.

1 State police charged Benedetti hit two police cars, two parked cars and three homes April 25 in a pursuit that started when he failed to pull over for a traffic violation in Bangor. Police cars from Pen Argyl and Roseto were damaged in the chase. Masut allowed $15,000 recognizance bail in the case, but Benedetti is still in Northampton County Prison under $15,000 bail in a Plainfield Township burglary case. He waived a preliminary hearing in that case Wednesday on a charge of criminal trespass. Police withdrew a burglary charge.

Police charged Benedetti entered a home on Batts Switch Road on April 27. Police charged Benedetti answered the phone at the home when a resident phoned there. Police said they responded to the property and found Benedetti sitting on the front porch. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP Woman killed herself in fire, coroner rules The death of a Springfield Township woman who was burned badly in a fire at her home Friday afternoon has been ruled a suicide, according to Scott Grim, Lehigh County coroner. Lorraine Weiss, 40, of 1315 Flint Hill Road was burned over 98 percent of her body in the blaze, said Robert Cressman, chief of the Springtown Volunteer Fire Company.

Weiss was taken by MedEvac helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, where she was initially listed in critical condition. She died on Sunday. The blaze was set intentionally and was fueled with gasoline, according to Cressman. The fire was reported about 5 p.m. Friday and took only a few minutes to put out.

It did not spread beyond the bedroom because the door was closed, Cressman said. 1 1' ALLENTOWN Then Reported Wednesday by City Sandwich Co. of 526 Hamilton SU $300 aluminum sign, $300 aluminum siding. Burglary Reported Wednesday by Bonnie D. Perez of 747 S.

Fillmore $500 gold wedding band. Theft Reported Wednesday by Martha Danner of Bethlehem; $500 compact disc stereo from car at Chester and Clevelandstreets. Burglary Reported Wednesday by Pamela Rynearson of 534 N. 6th $150 television, $200 for two videocas-sette recorders, $75 compact disc player, $75 equalizer. Vandalism Reported Wednesday by Tony Elias of Allentown; $500 to rear, front, right rear, and middle windows of vehicle parked at 727 Meadow St.

Burglary Reported Wednesday by Richard Hillegas of 722 S. 5th $200 microwave, $400 television, $400 video-cassette recorder taken. Charged AAetvin Lopez, 20, of 218 Priscilla St. for simple assault; arraigned to Lehigh County Prison and held under $5,000 bail. Theft Reported Wednesday by Elizabeth Fillman and Heddie K.

Bradley, both of Allentown; $90 cash, $230 check, $17 in wallets, and a bookbag taken from 815 N. Irving St. Theft Reported Wednesday by Patricia and Brandy Guedes of Pal-mertorv $259 compact disc stereo, $300 car stereo, $450 woofer speaker box taken from vehicle at 2127 S. 9th St. Vandalism Reported Wednesday by Tracy Ffchter of Allentown; $1,200 in scratches to vehicle parked at 924 W.

Liberty St. Theft Reported Wednesday by William Brensinger of Zionsville; $100 door lock damaged, $300 window smashed, and $150 cassette stereo stolen from vehicle at 100 block of Fountain Street. Theft Reported Wednesday by Ken-nety Smith of 45 S. Cloud St- $750 necklace, $25 in makeup, $65 in videos, $30 in compact discs, $20 pin. Burglary Reported Tuesday by Alma B.

Wolfe of 2923 Allen SU $800 silver set, $1,200 individual silver pieces. Charged Kimberly Riepenseil, 28, of 2339 W. Allen Stj Wednesday for three counts of theft by deception, three counts of receiving stolen property, and one count of forgery; released under condition she remain arrest-free. Charged David Scot Gottfried, 31, of 1117 Airport Road, Room Wednesday for three counts of forgery, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property; held under $2,000 bail. Theft Reported Tuesday by Sherrie Anabui of Allentown; handbag containing personal papers, documents, $259, and 35 mm camera taken from Cedar Beach.

Burglary Reported Tuesday by Daniel Acevedo of 926 Walnut boom box, computer games, microwave oven, watches, gold wedding ring, gold chain with emblem, answering machine, camera and two beepers, all worth $1155, and $425 taken. Charged Robert Branch, 24, of 305 N. Nelson Tuesday at 1 1th and Hamilton streets with simple assault-held for processing and arraignment. Burglary Reported Tuesday by Carey Steward of 739 N. 5th Stj $3,000 projection television with remote, $125 VCR and $1,200 stereo system taken.

fen 1 t4SijES3Kl' A- 7J Lehigh County will contract for medical-laboratory services for its nursing homes and hire a company to upgrade computer software for its court system, if contracts considered Wednesday night are approved. Commissioners also got a surprise visit at their meeting at the county Government Center in Al-lentown when a troupe of actors staged lively scenes in the public hearing room, scrambling around in a promotion for this season's events at the TrexlerLehigh County Game Preserve. Administrators at the Cedar-brook nursing homes in South Whitehall Township and in Fountain Hill want to close the medical lab that has long been a fixture at the main home in the township. With one full-time and two permanent part-time employees, the lab conducted about $126,500 worth of tests last year, with the costs covered by Medicare. If the board approves.

Health Network Laboratories of Allen- town, an affiliate of Lehigh Valley Hospital, will conduct the tests, billing Medicare directly in most cases. Two of the lab employees have been offered jobs with the private lab, presuming the three-year contract is approved, said Cedarbrook Administrator Gloria F. Zimmerman. The third person will take a different job at Cedarbrook, she said. Commissioner George A.

Laugh-lin said the county would have to spend about $80,000 to upgrade the in-house lab's equipment and esti- I .1 .3 3 0105-Ji 3109-J; DON FISHER The Morning Call Holly Botos (left) and Rachel Tamandl. both 13, hold up AAA award-winning safety posters. 2 Bath students win for posters UPPER SAUCON AAA honors Sacred Heart 8th-graders for traffic safety message. entries. Each was judged on originality, execution, visual relationship and effectiveness of communicating a traffic safety concept.

Each year, students design posters using one of 20 slogans, with topics ranging from encouraging the use of safety belts to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Three area high school students received merit ci- tnHnnc in thp cwnnH annual AAA fjnirr Wicrh Charged Brian Kline, 19, of 261 Powder Mill Lane, Apt. 2, Emmaus; Wednesday with drunken driving, disorderly conduct, underage drinking and driving outside traffic lanes; stopped on Spring Drive, between Lanark and Aberdeen streets; released pending due process. Two eighth-graders from Sacred Heart School in Bath won first- and second-place awards in the American Automobile Association National School Traffic Safety Poster Program. Holly Botos won first place in the junior high division.

She will receive a $150 U.S. savings bond for her poster, "See and Be Seen." Rachel Tamandl won second place in the junior high division. She will receive a $125 U.S. savings bond for her poster, "See and Be Seen." The girls' instructor is Helen Browne. In addition, Joseph Fox and Kim Rinehimer, eighth-graders at St.

Ann School, Emmaus, were recognized with an Award of Merit for their poster designs illustrating "Take Extra Care When a School Bus is Near." Their instructor is Beth Shields. Their posters were selected from more than 80,000 Traffic Safety Communication Contest. Luis Arocho, a sophomore from Dieruff High School, was recognized for his poster, "Cage the Rage." His instructor is Dennis Danko. Posters by senior Kristin Breiner and junior Emily Stephens, both from Salisbury High School, also were recognized. Breiner's poster was "DU1 Prevention," and Stephen's was "Save a Life: Call a Cab." Their instructor is Cindy Yanolko.

Entries in the senior high contest were judged on originality, presentation, visual impact and relationship to traffic safety. Categories included graphic arts, written and audiovisual. mated that a like amount would be saved annually in operating costs under the contract. Because no one would be losing employment, it's a "win-win situation," Laughlin said. The board is expected to vote on the contract at its next meeting at 7:30 p.m.

June 10 at the Coopers-burg Municipal Building. Also heard on first-reading Wednesday was a proposal to pay Technologies Plus Inc. of Easton up to $60,000 to upgrade computer software used by Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services to a Windows-based system compatible with those used by the county and the Allentown police. The county would pay $12,000 toward the contract, Mohr said, along with $3,000 worth of in-kind services from county computer personnel. A $45,000 grant from the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency would cover the remainder.

Commissioners approved the county executive's appointments of Jacqueline McHale and Daniel C. Frost to the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board and of Elaine F. Larish to the Industrial Development Authority, and the reappointment of Robert P. Forney to the Housing Authority board. A half-dozen actors staged the unannounced promotion for the game preserve's "Where in the Zoo is Carmen Sandiego?" educational program for children, bursting into their drama during the first public-comment portion of the agenda.

The 15-minute performance pumped life into the normally staid process of conducting the county's legislative business. ST. LUKE'S Daughters: Gene and Wendy Bodogh, Pen Argyl. Mr. and Mrs.

Willie Thomas Robertson, Bethlehem May 26. Sons: Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas and Anastasia Cardiges, Fogelsville. Brian and Laurie Iasiello, Bethlehem.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael DeJesso, Nazareth May 26. LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL Sons: Bob and Tammy Slotter, Center Valley May 27. Stephanie M.

Steinruck and Felix A. Figeruoa Allentown. Christopher Kidd and Jamie Farkas, Allentown. Wilma and Nelson Velez, Whitehall Township. Maribel Santiago and Alfredo Burgos, Allentown.

Michael and Dawn Smith, Bethlehem. Michael and Paula Nimeh, Allentown May 26. Daughters: Michael and Christine Giacobbe, Bethlehem May 26. John and Tracey Hassler, Jim Thorpe May 25. them, and by denying benefits.

The company denied the existence of the agreement. Chief U.S. District Judge Edward Cahn of Allentown said he dismissed the case because it was filed too late in May 1997. In a 10-page decision, he ruled that a six-month statute of limitations applied to the case, instead of two years argued by the truckers. Cahn's dismissal has been appealed to the federal Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

Stroh truck drivers' lawsuit is dismissed A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by seven Stroh Brewing Co. truck drivers, who claimed the company illegally denied them seniority and benefits. The drivers sued the brewery, company managers and union officials. They alleged that the company violated a labor agreement applying to the closing of its trucking operation. In 1985, Stroh closed its trucking department in Upper Macungie Township and put more than 40 truckers out of jobs.

The agreement outlined how drivers would be rehired for production jobs, according to the lawsuit. And it called for laid-off truckers to get severance pay, insurance and other benefits. The drivers, who were rehired in April 1996 as production workers, allege that the company violated the agreement by hiring other workers in 1994 and 1995 instead of ST. LUKE'S ALLENTOWN CAMPUS Daughters: Richard and Donna Litzenberger, Emmaus May 18. LEHIGH VALLEY THE MIDWIVES Daughter Kelly and Kenneth Moore, Tatamy May 23.

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