Wilson Board Rejects Charter School

Board members not convinced by Business and Entrepreneurship Academy's proposal.

The Wilson Area School Board has rejected a business-themed charter school that had wanted to open up in West Easton Board members said they weren't convinced the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy Charter High School had enough support from the community, parents, and educators, the Express-Times reports. And the Morning Call notes that a board resolution said board members thought the school hadn't shown plans to teach consumer sciences, health, music and other "core areas." Wilson board members had expressed some skepticism when school representatives first came before them in December. The school had support in Easton from members of the Greater Shiloh Church and its Pastor Phillip Davis, as well as former Bethlehem Area School …

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Wilson Board Questions Charter School

New business charter school proposed in West Easton.

Police: Woman Threatened West Easton Official

Tricia Mezzacappa, a former borough council candidate, accused of harassment after allegedly threatening to drown borough council president.

A West Easton woman who ran unsucessfully for borough council last year has been accused of threatening the council president. The Express-Times reports that Tricia Mezzacappa, who lost her bid for a seat on council in 2011, was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct following an incident last week at West Easton borough hall. Easton police -- who cover the borough -- say Mezzacappa, 42, was at the borough building last week asking to see the results of a right-to-know request. She allegedly flew into a rage when told the borough didn't have the documents she wanted, letting out a string of profanity, police said. According to police, Mezzacappa asked to see council President Kelly Gross, and said that if Gross was there, she would…

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Police: West Easton Man Threatens Woman With Knife

Luis Nieves, 19, jailed on assault charges after attack last week.

A 19-year-old West Easton man was jailed Friday after allegedly threatening a woman and her her daughters with a knife. The Express-Times says Luis Nieves, of the first block of Main Street, was arrested after police were called to his home in response to a report of a man threatening to stab people. When police arrived, they found people running from the building, and took Nieves into custody without incident. One of the victims told police Nieves threatened to stab her, and had thrust the knife in her direction. Nieves was charged with simple assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.

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County Approves Lease for West Easton DUI Center

Northampton County will have a new place to send DUI and work release inmates.

After years of discussion, Northmapton County is a step closer to having a DUI treatment center. County council voted 8-0 Thursday night to approve a $450,000 lease for the center in West Easton, which officials hope will ease overcrowding at the county prison as well as the number of repeat offenders in the prison system. "This has been a long journey to this point," county Executive John Stoffa said, noting earlier, unsuccessful efforts to open the center in Glendon and Bethlehem Township. Stoffa said the 100-bed rehab center at Main and East streets would represent a philosophical change in direction for the county, emphasizing rehabilitation rather than incarceration. The property is owned by Abraham Atiyeh, a developer who also has …

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West Easton Hears Hospital Plan

The borough of West Easton hears proposal to put medical facility inside old mill.

The borough of West Easton says it needs more time to decide on a developer's proposal to turn an old mill into a medical facility. Mickey Thompson, appearing before council Monday night on behalf of developer Abraham Atiyeh, asked the borough to change its zoning to allow Atiyeh to put some sort of medical facility inside the former Chipman Knitting Mills. The mill property -- on East and Main streets in West Easton -- is also the place where Northampton County wants to put its DUI treatment center. County Council will vote next month on a lease for the facility. Speaking to borough council Monday, Thompson stressed that his company has no specific plans for the property.  However, Atiyeh had told The Morning Call that he wanted to put in…

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Firefighters Battle Blaze in West Easton

Flames force residents from home on South Center Street.

Wilson Man Assaulted Father, Police Say

The man was charged with pushing his father in his West Easton home, causing him to hit the back of his head and suffer a laceration of about two inches that was treated at a hospital, say court records.

Scott William Repsher, 35, of Wilson Borough, was arraigned early Friday on charges of simple assault and harassment by physical contact after allegedly pushing his father in his West Easton home. Police say Robert Repsher, 60, suffered a two-inch-long cut to the back of his head leaving “a large amount of blood” in his hair that required medical attention from the incident, which occurred Thursday night. They added that three other people witnessed the incident and confirmed the elder Repsher's account. Scott Repsher was by released by on-duty District Judge Adrianne Masut on $5,000 unsecured bail.

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