Local News

Reverse Parade!  

Presented by: Rotary Club of the Pocono Mountains

Join us for our annual Halloween Parade this year with a twist... a reverse parade! The floats will be stationary & YOU will be driving thru all the fun!

CRESCO, MONROE CO. (WOLF) — Back in 1970, one Monroe County man was murdered and the question still haunts everyone:

What exactly happened to 52-year-old John Leonard?

via Rosemary Brown:

After receiving many questions and concerns relating to school district property taxes, I wanted to take the opportunity to offer some helpful information to explain how school district real estate taxes are determined, provide information on state programs to ease the burden of school district real estate taxes for eligible residents, and highlight legislative proposals.

First and foremost, property taxes fall under the jurisdiction of your local governments, specifically your county, municipality and school district.

Property taxes continue to be a primary source of funding for these governments, as this tax is the only tax authorized by law to be levied by all three, where every property owner pays tax to each, unless otherwise exempted.

It is important to note that a tax on property is not levied by the Commonwealth, nor is it mandated on local taxing districts; rather, the decision is made separately, and independently, by local elected officials, with the General Assembly establishing certain parameters.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

by Katie Park, Posted: August 21, 2020

The Poconos ranked among the top markets for buying a vacation home this year, according to a report released Friday by the rental management company Vacasa.

The forested area about two hours from Philadelphia was the only region in Pennsylvania that broke into the list of the most popular 25 vacation home destinations, according to the report’s data. The Poconos, ranked third on the list and with a median home price of around $200,000, was preceded by Cape Hatteras, N.C., and Big Sky, Mont.

... also commonly known as a “gun permit” or “carry permit,” whereby your confidential information may have been disclosed in violation of Pennsylvania law, your rights could be affected by a proposed class action settlement.

This is a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that Monroe County, and certain of its employees, agencies and departments, disclosed confidential information under Pennsylvania law and in particular, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6111(i), through the use of un-enveloped postcards. The information disclosed included names, addresses, and other related LTCF Applicant information (“LTCF Information”). The lawsuit also alleges that certain policies and practices of the Defendants are unlawful and should be changed.

Further Reading:
monroeltcfclassaction.com/

Editor's Note:
17,000 affected individuals * $1,000 = $17,000,000

Click HERE to access an important survey for parents to share their preferred option for reopening PMSD schools in the fall. The survey includes the 3 options presented at the July 30 PMSD School Board meeting & a NEW 4th option based on parent feedback. Parents only have until Noon, Monday, August 10, 2020, to complete this survey, so results can be presented at the August 12, 2020 PMSD School Board meeting.

via Tracy Fox, Highway Safety Network

Aggressive Driving is exhibited by driving behaviors such as speeding, running red lights, tailgating, failing to stop for stop signs and cutting someone off. These behaviors are exhibited by drivers every day. It can happen anywhere, day or night and anyone can become a victim, no one is immune. Police will be watching for these and other aggressive driving behaviors and issuing citations as part of the enforcement campaign that runs from July 6 – August 23, 2020.

School Bus Stopping Law
Submitted by Tracy Fox, Traffic Safety Coordinator
Highway Safety Network

Although it is unclear what the start of the school year will bring, I would be remiss in my job if I did not take the opportunity to cover school bus safety.

Further north, the Stites Tunnel Bridge carrying Route 191 over Paradise Creek in Pocono Township, Monroe County, has reopened to traffic.  

The bridge was closed since January 2019 for the $8 million project. It replaced a span built in 1911 and then reconstructed in 1941.  

There may be flagging operations at the site between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. over the next few weeks for project completion work on the bridge project.

[Source]

MOUNT POCONO, Pa. — The light at the end of the tunnel is finally here for some commuters in Monroe county.

Construction on the Stites tunnel near Mount Pocono is finally complete.

The stretch of route 191 was closed in December of 20-18.

It just re-opened Friday.

"And as soon as it was open, [the cars] I saw one truck he came down around the corner, he was going to take the detour go up that way. What did he do? He said woo! I think it's open and he turned around and he came down through and he waved and blew the horn at me!" said Bertie Kitzhoffer.

For more than a year and a half drivers were forced to use a detour that took about 15 minutes

"It's been very difficult because you have to take all of these other back roads instead of just going straight the way you need to," said Brittany Clark.

The project was originally slated to wrap up last July.

The work was extended once because of winter weather, and then again because of the coronavirus.

One couple saw the tunnel was open on Facebook and came for a drive because they needed to see it to believe their days of taking the detour were over

"It's probably a little longer and there's more traffic when we get off on 80 sometimes. But it's a God send that it's open after a year and a half," said Michael Cohan.

Most drivers we spoke with say in addition to saving time, the drive through the tunnel is far more scenic than the detour.

Those who live nearby say workers made vast improvements to the tunnel.

"That's an amazing bridge with the water on one side, the road on the other with the railroad above," Kitzhoffer said.

The tunnel was paved and re-sided.

New guide rails and approach structures were installed for safety.

[Source]

via Rosemary Brown newsletter:

Openness, Transparency Needed Now More Than Ever

Since March, the beginning of the disaster declaration, Pennsylvania’s “Right-to-know” inquiries have gone unanswered. The Right-to-Know (RTK) law was created to ensure access to information was accessible to Pennsylvanians. The public should always have access to these records, but during a crisis, more than ever. The legislature has been putting pressure on the administration to be transparent, but the requests have gone unheard.

via Barrett Township Supervisors:

ALERT: Please be aware that there have been numerous break-ins in the area lately.  Please be mindful of your surroundings and keep your home and vehicles locked.  Please report all incidents to the police.  The police need to gather information on all cases to best determine a pattern and find the person / persons responsible (for) the crimes.  

A Monroe County man is arrested on arson charges after fleeing from police.

Police started searching for the suspect yesterday after he set two vehicles on fire in Barrett Township.

The domestic incident led to a high speed chase today on Route 447 in Price Township.

We’re told police were actively looking for the suspect when they saw him getting into his mother’s vehicle this morning. When they approached, she took off. One of our videographers happened to be driving on the same road and got caught up in the pursuit.

News13 Videographer Alex Herrero says, "My heart was pounding and I was nervous, but I wanted to find out as a news person what was going on. 

Herrero is talking about the pursuit for 30-year-old Eric Funk of Cresco. Yesterday police were called to an apartment complex on Brookside Lane in Barrett Township. We’re told a witness observed Funk walk up to two vehicles, douse them with gasoline and light them ablaze.

Chief Chris Wagner of Pocono Mountain Regional Police says, "Further investigation revealed that one of the drivers of the vehicle had a past relationship with Funk and it seems to be some sort of retaliation because of the breaking off of that relationship."

One vehicle was put out by the witness but the other was fully engulfed and needed to be put out by the Barrett Township Fire Department. Police could not locate Funk yesterday but flied felony arson charges.

Wagner says, "Given the fact that he endangered people with lighting those vehicles. So when those vehicles were lit, they were within 10 feet of the apartment buildings and there were multiple occupants within those apartments."

Today's pursuit ensued through multiple jurisdictions. Herrero says the SUV flew up behind him on Wooddale Road in Price Township doing about 90 miles per hour.

Herrero says, "Cuts into the oncoming lane, it’s only a two lane road and he goes in front of me. Then in front of me there was a dump truck going around a narrow bridge, he actually passed that guy on the left going around that bridge, could’ve been a head on collision. I thought I was going to see an accident."

Police did lose sight of the vehicle but Stroud Area Regional Police were able to locate the vehicle near the Analomink Post Office. Funk attempted to flee and was apprehended, along with his mother, Lori Funk who was behind the wheel.

Wagner says, "Mr. Funk and his mother endangered various members of the public and we just as a community can not tolerate that."

Both Funk and his mother were taken to the Monroe County Jail and are awaiting arraignment on felony charges. 

Source