The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 27

1" I KO I THE M0RNING CALL' THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2001 B3 COMMUNITY REPORT chuylkill Coumtiy budget discussion tuinras tense Commissioner calls controller's request for spending cuts, no tax hike 'political Barket said he was upset because Hornberger had made no attempt to discuss the matter with him before the meeting. "Why didn't you call a meeting to discuss this instead of bringing these charts and grandstanding in front of an audience?" Barket said. Commissioner Jerry Knowles, who voted against the preliminary budget last week and called for countywide spending cuts, defended the controller. "This has been brought up, and we asked the departments to cut by 15 percent," Knowles said. "And then some of them came back asking for increases.

That shows how seriously they took our memo." Commissioner Chairman Forest L. Shadle remained neutral during the discussion, speaking only twice: to ask Hornberger where cuts should be made and remarking that he felt the board "should consider options" but not require uniform cuts. Barket apologized for losing his temper and suggested that he and Hornberger work together to resolve the dispute but not before taking a shot at Knowles. "I want to point out that the hiring up to this point has been unanimous," Barket said. Knowles acknowledged he voted for the new hires but said he now wants to cut spending.

"It was a mistake, and I have seen the light," Knowles said. "It was easy when there was money flowing in, but now we are in a budget crunch and either we have to tighten our belts or we have to take it out on the taxpayer. I'm not taking it out on the taxpayer." "I am glad that you are born again, Jerry," Barket replied. "But we need to work this out as a team, and that means we all have to get together on it." "Well, I just want you to be born again too," Knowles said. Shadle ended the discussion by calling for a motion to adjourn.

"Unless something is done to reverse the trend, future years will see the continued disappearance of our reserve funds and require even more tax increases." Hornberger said that from 1996 to 1999, revenues increased 19 percent and expenses 7 percent. But since 1999, revenues grew 29 percent and expenditures 48 percent, he said. Hornberger demanded that expenses be reduced and suggested ordering county department heads to reduce their budgets. "It appears that this year expenditures will exceed revenues by approximately $1.5 million," Hornberger said. "In other words, you have turned those surpluses into a deficit." Barket, visibly upset, responded with a challenge.

"Why don't you set an example, then?" Barket told Hornberger. "You have one of the largest staffs in the' row offices. You cut 10 percent and then we'll look at other departments." "We can't call for an across-the-board cut, because each department has different circumstances," Shadle said. The discussion affected later business, as the commissioners voted on several items involving hires. A typist, a nurse's aide and a mental health caseworker were hired unanimously at entry-level salaries, but a request by the Department of Human Services to appoint an aging care manager at $12.31 per hour failed for lack of a motion, and a computer technician for the county Mental Health Department was hired without a vote from Knowles.

Shadle noted that the caseworker and nurse's aide were hired because of a shortage of needed employees in those positions, and Barket was quick to point out that the computer technician's position was "totally state and federally funded." Before the meeting adjourned, ted to vote Dec. 19 on the budget, which in addition to the tax increase would use up to $877,000 of the county's $9 million reserve account to cover general fund expenditures of $31,834,232. The budget does not account for several union contracts now being renegotiated. Raises and benefit increases for those employees could take up to $1 million more from the county's reserve fund. At the meeting, Hornberger used charts to show general fund expenditures growing from less than $20 million at the end of 1998 to the current proposed budget of nearly $32 million.

"Next year's proposed budget has expenditures exceeding revenues even with your proposed 1-mill tax increase," Hornberger said. By GERRY McCLENAHAN Special to The Morning Call Tempers flared Wednesday as Schuylkill County commissioners debated a 2002 budget that calls for a 1-mill increase in the county property tax rate. County Commissioner Edward D. Barket accused county Controller Gary L. Hornberger of "political grandstanding" after Hornberger surprised commissioners during the public comment part of the meeting with a presentation calling for spending cuts and no tax increase.

Under the proposed budget, the tax rate would rise about 12 percent to 9.13 mills, meaning the annual tax bill of the owner of a property with a tax assessment of the county average of $32,500 would rise from $264.22 to $296.73. The commissioners are expec Durst closer to joining other prison inmates Tamaqua revives its walking tours for annual celebration Despite competency question, murder suspect will be extradited, DA says. By CHUCK AYERS Of The Morning Call Murder suspect Robert Durst is one step closer to joining the general inmate population in Northampton County Prison today after a psychiatric evaluation Wednesday morning. Durst, heir to the billion-dollar Durst Trust, had been on Stage 1 suicide watch in the prison since being jailed Friday after he was nabbed allegedly stealing a chicken sandwich from Wegmans in Hanover Township, Northampton County. "Durst's status has been upgraded," said Northampton County District Attorney John Mor-ganelli.

His local attorney, John Wald-ron, on Monday said Durst has been uncommunicative and despondent in his solitary cell where he is under constant surveillance that has hindered discussions of his pending extradition to Texas. He is charged there with dismembering a 71-year-old neighbor and disposing of the body parts in Galveston Bay. Waldron, who asked Northampton County Senior Judge James C. Hogan to expedite Durst's release into the general prison population to give him the opportunity to talk confidentially with his attorneys, had no comment on the prison's action. The upgrade to a Stage 2 con By GERRY McCLENAHAN Special to The Morning Call After a two-year absence, Victorian house tours in Tamaqua will be back as part of the borough's annual Spirit of Christmas celebration this weekend.

The sixth annual festival will be Friday through Sunday. Owners of historic Victorian-era houses and buildings on Broad Street will play host Saturday to visitors who signed up for tours. This year, four houses built in 1850 and the First United Methodist Church at 152 W. Broad built in 1852, will be open for tours that will begin at the Tamaqua Historical Society building on Broad Street and cover about two blocks. "It is an easy walking tour, and everything is close together," said Tamaqua Downtown Manager Linda Yulanavage, a member of the Tamaqua 2004 Partnership, which is sponsoring the weekend festivities.

She said the event will draw interest. "These are always popular, and I am hoping that we can do even more next year." The guided walking tours have been a favorite attraction of the festival, but too few houses were open in 1999 and 2000 to organize tours. Residents who participate in the tour by opening their homes offer visitors a glance into mansions of an architectural era characterized by themed rooms, high ceilings and impressive windows, elaborate staircases, turrets and towers. In at least one home, visitors can see secret passages used to hide travelers on the Underground Railroad, an escape network for runaway slaves. "There are still openings, but reservations are a must, as groups will be limited in size," Yulanavage said.

"We're busy. I must get a hundred calls a day." For information or for tickets, call the Tamaqua 2004 Partnership at 570-668-6899. lit: 1 jjH 4 r- i 'Wit v- ft ED KOSKEY JR. The Morning Call Michael and Angela Competielle of Bartonsville pass the First United Methodist Church in Tamaqua. The church, at 152 Broad and four historic homes will be open for tours Saturday.

District attorney clears parents in Becahi drinking incident finement means that Durst will receive some of the amenities afforded the rest of the prison population, such as a blanket, pen and paper, and the opportunity to receive incoming phone calls and visitors. But he will remain in what prison officials refer to as "the bubble," a Plexiglas-enclosed cell where he is watched continuously. A second evaluation that could return him to the general inmate population is expected Sunday, according to prison officials. Durst, who arrived in the Lehigh Valley in a car leased under the name of homicide victim Morris Black, was the subject of a nationwide manhunt after he failed to appear for an arraignment Oct. 16 in Galveston, Texas.

He jumped $300,000 bail in that state, where authorities didn't realize he was an heir to a billion-dollar New York real estate fortune and a man worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He checked in at Staybridge Suites off Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, on Nov. 18 under the assumed name Emilio Vignoni and presented a valid Visa card bearing that name to pay for his stay, police said. From the time he arrived in the Lehigh Valley until his capture Friday, he was spotted at several locations near Bethlehem and Allentown exhibiting odd behavior. At a local diner he showed up for a cup of coffee wearing a woman's wig and sporting a white mustache and at a pub he held conversations with himself over a beer, people who saw him said.

And there was no party at the home along Maryann Lane, Hanover Township, on Oct. 29. Joseph Blasko said. "We'd like to take this opportunity to clarify the misinformation the newspapers received from the police report," Blasko said Wednesday. "On the night of the Bethlehem Catholic homecoming dance, we allowed our daughter to have approximately 16 classmates for a sleepover" in the basement recreation room.

Blasko said he went to bed about 10 p.m. on Oct. 28. the night of the dance, and his wife stayed in the kitchen to hand out snacks. There was no school the next day.

Oct. 29. "At approximately 2 a.m. Oct. 29).

nine male classmates arrived at our home, and, (unbeknownst to us. brought alcohol through our walkout basement door. At TOWAMENSING TWP One-car crash injures Palmerton motorist A Palmerton man suffered a head Injury Tuesday morning when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a utility pole in Towamensing Township, state police said. Michael Rierman's car left Strohls Valley Hoad just after 5 a.m., hit the pole and rolled over, police said. Rierman was taken to Palmerton Hospital, treated and released, hospital personnel said, COOLBAUGH TOWNSHIP Monroe County Teenagers face charges in gun-skateboard trade Two Monroe County teens ended up in trouble on the weekend when one took a handgun from his parents' home and traded it to the other for a skateboard.

Pocuno Mountain Regional police reported. this time, most of the kids were sleeping." Colonial Regional police said they showed up at 3:41 a.m. to investigate a noise report. Blasko is puzzled by that claim. "I'm very curious about the noise complaint," he said, adding that he slept through the gathering and that his wife heard no sound coming from the basement.

"There was no noise. I talked to all the neighbors except one. No one knew anything was going on." Police, Blasko said, had to awaken most of the 25 youngsters at the house. The Blaskos' daughter was among the 14 students who tested negative for alcohol, according to Blasko and Morganelli. The 11 charged with underage drinking included several members of Becahi's football team and other sports teams: two A 13-vearold boy from Porono Country Place took the semiautomatic handgun from his parents' bedroom closet Saturday and traded it to a 15-year-okl boy in return for the skatelioard, police said.

The gun theft was discovered when the 13-year-old older brother noticed an empty gun case in the parents' room and asked about the gun. Police were called after the 13-year-old's mother went to the other boy's home and told that boy's father what had hapjiened. Roth boys were questioned and both insisted the other had the gun. which was eventually found in the basement of the 15-year-old's home, hidden under a water heater. The boys fare charges of theft illegal possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property.

BANGOR Charged Cheryl Crawn, 45, of 124 Market Tuesday witti disorderly conduct; allegedly struck Barbara Nemeth, 37, of Market Street; summons to be issued. who were at the sleepover were charged. Immediately after the students were charge, Morganelli said he wanted to determine whether the Blaskos knew the students were drinking. He made such an investigation a priority when three teenagers died in a crash after leaving an April party in Plain-field Township. The driver was drunk.

Morganelli charged the homeowner, Judith Claire Mc-Closkey, with involuntary manslaughter. That case is pending. On Wednesday, Morganelli said there is no comparison between McCloskey's actions and those of the Blaskos. Evidence, he said, supports his contention that McCloskey saw teenagers drinking in her home. "We have a lot of kids who cooperated in the McCloskey case." Morganelli said.

"Kids will EAST STROUDSBURG Former employee faces forgery, theft charges An East Stroudsburg man was arrested Wednesday and charged with taking more than S155.000 from two businesses where he worked as finance manager. According to Stroud Area Regional police, John L. Willetts II. was arraigned before District Justice Robert J. Perfetti of East Stroudsburg and Is free on $25,000 bad.

Police said Willetts is charged with forgery, theft by deception and receiving stolen probity. Officials said he was employed by Sun Litho Wnt and Kistler Printing, owned by the family. Police said Willetts worked for the companies for 11 years. The investigation is continuing, said Stroud Area Police Chief Keith Carr. testify.

Witnesses will be able to place her right in the midst of the party. We're going to be able to establish that she had knowledge" that the teens were drinking. "Kids were walking past her with booze in their hands." Police have no evidence that the Blaskos were aware of what was happening in their basement. But the students, Morganelli said, were not helpful in determining who provided the alcohol. He said only 12 of the students and their parents were willing to talk.

All said the Blaskos weren't involved.Ten students and their parents refused to cooperate, he said, and the others were unavailable. "Those who were in a position to know the source of the alcohol refused to cooperate with police, even though they were assured that their cooperation would not result in any further charges BANGOR Pellets damage vehicles; stereo removed from car Bangor police are Investigating a pellet gun criminal mischief spree that damaged four vehicles on S. Main Street Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Police said the first reports of shattered windows came in about 9 p.m. Tuesday.

No arrests were made, and pouce are asking anyone with Information to call them at 61O58fM720 or 610-330-2200. In addition to the criminal mischief spree, police said they are investigating the theft of a car stereo in the 700 block of Broadway. That Incident has not been connected to the criminal mischief, police said. SMITHFIELD TWP. Burglary Reported to state police at Swiftwater by Christopher Pesca-tore of Florham, N.J.; tractor and hedge trimmer taken from garage on Franklin Hill Road between Nov.

24 and Tuesday; 1850 value. against them," Morganelli said. "Out there somewhere in our community is a distributor who sells alcohol to minors and who we cannot take action against due to the lack of interest and cooperation by the students and their parents. This is disappointing when our only goal is to protect kids from the well-known dangers of alcohol use by teenagers." Blasko said the students made a mistake. "This is a great group of kids," he said.

"They have been welcome in our home for many years. They are like sons and daughters to us. That's what we are at Bethlehem Catholic a family. Unfortunately, the kids sometimes make bad decisions." Reporter Tyra Braden 610-2M-5751 tyra.bradcn mcall.com HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Vehicle theft Reported to state police at Swiftwater by Robert Fish of Sciota; dark green 1995 Ford Ranger pickup truck with two Christmas trees in the bed taken Tuesday from driveway at Lock It Storage on Business Route 209 near Greenview Drive. ALLENTOWN Theft Reported Wednesday by Pablo Soto of Allentown; car stolen from 1700 block of Hall Street.

Burglary Reported Wednesday by AT Market, 502 Tilghman cash register, $5,842 in calling cards and tlOO taken. Burglary Reported Wednesday by Allentown Housing Authority; $250 electric stove, $350 refrigerator and $150 drill taken. Theft Reported Wednesday by Cinthla Garcia of Allentown; stereo equipment taken from car In unit block of N. 13th $500 value. Theft Reported Wednesday by Bill Brick of Coopersburg; lighted deer taken from yard In 1200 block of S.

Fourth Street; $375 value. Investigation found girl held sleepover; others arrived later with alcohol when most were asleep. By TYRA BRADEN Of The Morning Call Joseph and Maryann Blasko had no idea 11 Bethlehem Catholic High School students were drinking in their basement, so they won't face criminal charges, Northampton County District Attorney John M. Morganelli concluded Wednesday. The students and parents who were willing to talk to authorities said the Blaskos weren't involved.

One student, Morganelli said, reported that the alcohol showed up at the home about 15 minutes before police did and that some students may have been drinking elsewhere. POLICE REPORT TREMONT TOWNSHIP Schuylkill County Man dies of head injuries after leap from minivan A Schuylkill County died Monday from head injuries he suffered two days earlier when he Jumped from a moving minivan while joking around with friends and hit his head on the pavement, slate police at Schuylkill Haven said. Richard Knih, 27. of Lincoln jumped from the van on Molleystown Road In Tremont Township just after midnight Friday, police said. Kroh died early Monday at Her-shey Medical Outer.

Dauphin County Chief Deputy Coroner Patty Car Ixr ruled his death accidental. Police initially reported that Kroh fell or jumped from the van. After Interviewing at least four people who were in the van, they concluded that he jumped..