Parkland News

KidsPeace, which provides behavioral and mental health services to children, collected about 1,400 toys for its 12th annual Angel Tree holiday gift drive.

The Upper Macungie Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved plans for a 60-foot tall, 326,859 square-foot building expansion to Americold Logistics’ cold storage warehouse at 7150 Ambassador Drive.

A new hospital in the St. Luke’s University Health Network is now open. The ribbon was cut on the orthopedic hospital Wednesday and patients will start being seen at the South Whitehall Township location next week.

Upper Macungie supervisor and former township staffer Kathy Rader had her final meeting with the board Thursday. Rader first joined the board in 2006, and she worked for the township from 1985 to 2016.

Upper Macungie's Board of Supervisors adopted the 2024 budget on Thursday. The property tax millage rate will stay at 0.64, but the refuse and recycling fee will increase by $30.

South Whitehall Township residents will not have to pay more in township taxes next year, but the waste collection fee will soon increase.

The North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors approved the implementation of a four-day work week for municipal staff after a ten-month trial period.

Vice President of the board David Kennedy announced his resignation at Wednesday’s meeting. He said he is moving out of the township to be closer to his grandson.

The Parkland School Board has officially entered its post-election era, but the directors still have one more two-year seat left to fill.

The township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve the final 2024 budget, which keeps the property tax rate at 0.6 mils. The budget accounts for three new staff positions, large building projects and increased funds to the township’s volunteer fire companies.

RDM Group presented a sketch plan for a 49,320 square foot warehouse at the Upper Macungie Township planning commission meeting.

Seeing Eye puppies are bred to be guide dogs for their blind future handler, and in order to do their jobs, they need to be exposed to as many different environments as possible — including the inside of an ambulance.

Michael Wolk resigned from South Whitehall's Board of Commissioners because of his family's decision to relocate.

Republican Jarrett Coleman will replace longtime incumbent Pat Browne as Pennsylvania's 16th District state senator.

The biggest expenditure in the proposed budget is township building renovations, including renovations to the municipal building.

Shankweiler's, the country's oldest drive-in theatre located in Orefield, is under new ownership. It will resume its 2022 season this month, with a grand reopening planned for the spring.

Upper Macungie Township’s proposed 2023 budget does not change the real estate tax. It does includes a $15 increase to the refuse and recycling rate.

The proposed 2023 budget for South Whitehall Township would increase water and sewer bills for residents.

Economy, abortion and the future of democracy in focus as Jill Biden headlines event at Muhlenberg College with US Reps. Susan Wild and Madeleine Dean.

Polls say John Fetterman is neck-and-neck against Mehmet Oz in the race for U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Toomey. Fetterman will swing through the Lehigh Valley on Thursday for a canvassing event with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

Incumbent 132nd state House District Representative Michael Schlossberg, a Democrat, will face challengers Beth Finch, a Republican, and Matthew Schutter, a Libertarian, on Nov. 8

Almost 500 housing units have been proposed at Upper Macungie Planning Commission's meeting, including the controversial Sunset Orchards development.