Parkland News

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

South Whitehall's Community Development Department hosted a forum Thursday about historic preservation efforts, and residents considered creating a historic society

South Whitehall Township commissioners appointed Capt. Stephen Brown to the position of interim/acting police chief. Outgoing Police Chief Glen Dorney recently tendered his resignation to take a job in the private sector.

An art show centered around mental health and disabilities is opening in an unlikely place. Midnight Gallery is in the showroom of Vollux Autowerks, a car repair and diagnostics shop in Lehigh County.

After teasing on social media about moving to a new location, Pines Dinner Theatre revealed where it's headed Wednesday and what to expect.

Asst. Superintendent Timothy Chorones on Tuesday gave the Parkland School Board a presentation about staffing the district may need to add to next school year’s budget.

South Whitehall Township Police Chief Glen Dorney resigned on March 4. He led the department starting in April 2018, and before then was the Allentown police chief.

The 2nd annual Parkland Community Resource Fair & Health Symposium will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Parkland High School cafeteria.

As Dorney Park begins testing and inches closer to the opening of Iron Menace, fans are heaping praise on Thunderhawk — a classic wooden coaster that turns 100 this year.

Upper Macungie Township plans to build a 10 foot wide, 5 kilometer-long macadam pathway along the edge of Grange Park, called the Grange Park Loop Trail.

General real estate taxes will stay flat in South Whitehall Township next year, its fire tax will rise 0.28 of a mill and residents will see a new 0.1% income tax to fund open space preservation.

At their annual reorganization meeting Tuesday, Parkland School District's board chose new leaders and swore in four winners of last month's election.

Former Parkland High School performing arts administrator Francis Anonia pleaded guilty Monday to 19 criminal counts for secretly recording a student changing clothes during rehearsals for a school musical.

Plans for a 105 single-family home land subdivision along Rising Sun Road received a recommendation for preliminary final approval from the North Whitehall Township Planning Commission.

North Whitehall Township Planning Commission voted Tuesday to reject Gene Weierbach's contention that a zoning ordinance pertaining to an auto repair shop operating in a residential zone is unconstitutional.

A Lehigh County judge has denied a request by Francis Anonia, the former Parkland School District performing arts administrator, to suppress videos allegedly recovered from his cell phone during an invasion of privacy investigation by county detectives.

On Thursday, one of the final pieces of timber was placed atop an outer wall of the $47 million, 188,000-square-foot, multi-functional indoor facility under construction at Grange Park.

A Lehigh County judge heard arguments Monday in a case that will decide whether a 501,000-square-foot warehouse will rise on 71 acres near Route 309 and Orefield Road.

The $68 million, five-building expansion to the existing high school at 2700 N. Cedar Creek Blvd. will be voted on for final approval by the township board of commissioners in January.

The submission proposing the construction of 2.6 million square-feet of data center facilities closely aligns with Air Products' existing plan for warehouses on the 194-acre property.

Specifics for the plan are still under wraps as Upper Macungie Township is processing the application. The proposal would develop the data center at the former Air Products headquarters on Hamilton Boulevard.

Parkland School District officials on Monday presented early estimates for their 2026-27 budget. It includes a $20 million deficit, and could lead to a tax increase next year.