OUR 10TH YEAR OF SERVICE
TO THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM, BETHLEHEM AND HANOVER TOWNSHIPS AND THE BOROUGHS OF FOUNTAIN HILL, FREEMANSBURG AND HELLERTOWN

Phone: 610-625-2121 FAX: 610-625-2126 gtaylor@tnonline.com

Tuesday, March 12, 2019


March 13, 2019

BATTLING ADDICTION

An addict’s mother reaches out

Ruth Plebani used to feel shame over her sons’ addiction to drugs, but after one nearly died from an overdose, she decided it was worth sharing her story if it helps others get into rehab. Her son Keith Goosman had been confined to a hospital bed after an overdose of methamphetamine. He temporarily lost control of basic bodily functions. Thankfully, Keith has made considerable progress, but he still has a long way to go. As she looked at him hooked up to a ventilator, Plebani decided that she wanted to share her story and Keith’s, and hopefully reach at least one person and convince them to seek help for addiction.

By Chris Reber

 

BATTLING ADDICTION-BLUE GUARDIAN

County considers program an early success

As the drug crisis continues countrywide, legal and medical professionals at every level are seeking new means of reducing opioid prescriptions, monitoring their use, saving lives and promoting treatment for those becoming dangerously addicted. In Lehigh County, officials’ experiment with a support program has seen early success. Blue Guardian is a program devised more than a year ago to help guide addicts and their loved ones after near-tragedies through continued communication and broad support. In fact, officials said the support system on the governing end as encompassing the district attorney’s office, the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center, Department of Drug and Alcohol, 15 municipal police departments, two state police barracks, six hospitals, treatment providers, certified recovery specialists and the Center of Excellence.

By Nate Jastrzemski

 

RELATED STORIES

Evolving drugs pose challenges.

Blue Guardian by the numbers

Blue Guardian: Working with several partners

Parent’s denial leads to unnecessary death

 

COMMUNITY

Feasting on fastnachts

For years Valley Farm Market has done a big business selling fastnachts on the days preceding Lent, and this year was no exception. Anticipating that they would not be eating sweets during the fourty days of Lent, people poured in to purchase a last treat - luscious doughnuts, also known as fastnachts. Customers could choose plain, powdered, glazed, or those with granulated sugar. And pick they did - among the roughly 2,000 fastnachts sold. By 10:30 a.m on Tuesday, the day before Lent began, the fastnachts shelves were emptying rapidly. Photo: Leticia Merceno, joined by a co-worker, takes a break from packing fastnachts to decorate cupcakes.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

SPORTS

Hawks win team state team title

Ryan Anderson is no stranger to a smile or having fun.  On Saturday night in Hershey, Anderson was able to do both of those things after winning his second-straight state championship at the PIAA 3A wrestling tournament. Anderson was the lone gold medalist for the Hawks on the night, as Kenny Herrmann made a run to the finals but lost to Northampton’s stalwart Julian Chlebove. The pair helped push Becahi to the team title with 93 points and closed an eventful season for the program in customary fashion - as champions.

Anderson, a senior, topped Council Rock North’s Cam Robinson 3-2 in their 145-pound championship, displaying a stark contrast in size between both wrestlers with Robinson having at least a six-inch height difference on the Becahi champion.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

Spring musicals

Northampton - 'Mary Poppins'
Catasauqua - 'Anything Goes'

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem HARB: Book shop to get exterial floor tiles

Bethlehem SSTF: Task Force walks through model

Bethlehem BASD: Power outtages caused no damage to buildings

Bethlehem NIMH: Pump house tour offered March 24

Classroom: Northeast MS presents ‘Lion King Jr.’

Lehigh County: Judge petitions for additional grandy jury power

Lehigh County: Commisioners talk term limits

Northampton County: Election commission chooses new machines

South Bethlehem: LUGA springs forwards with new exhibits

Student profile: Madeline Wickel, Bethlehem Catholic HS

High school news: Charter Arts

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

 

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