News

 POCONO TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A resort in the Poconos is celebrating the opening of a multi-million dollar expansion, aimed to bring thousands of people to the area.

The Great Wolf Lodge brings smiles to people who are hitting the waterpark.

But now with its 125 million dollar expansion adding 7 new slides the fun just keeps on growing.

“Currently, we have 80,000 square feet, it’ll be an additional 40,000 square feet, totaling 120,000 square feet. Plus an outside area, which is roughly 30,000 square feet,” said Bill Colavito the general manager at Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains.

Please be advised that the 8/9/23 Planning Commission meeting is canceled due to lack of business.

ALLENTOWN, P.A. – On the one-year anniversary of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a law revitalizing and massively increasing American-made semiconductors, streamlining and protecting American supply chains, and strengthening national security, Congresswoman Susan Wild—a key advocate for the legislation’s passage—released the following statement:

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Nearly 24 hours after the storm on Monday, thousands of residents are still without power.

According to PPL, the following areas are experiencing power outages as of 10:30 p.m.

• Monroe County: 1,161
• Northampton County: 3,702
• Bucks County: 678
• Columbia County: 431
• Lehigh County: 2,957

Overall, over 9,000 customers are without power on Tuesday night.

This is a developing story and 28/22 News will provide more information as it becomes available.

POCONO SUMMIT, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Local organizations are coming together to help train staff about how to be prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency.

St. Luke's Health Network's Athletic Training Department and Pocono Mountain School District hosted the event Tuesday.

This training exercise was designed to help people of all ages especially students and athletes respond to a cardiac arrest event on a sports field.

Cardiac arrest is a severe medical emergency that requires immediate response and the right medical equipment.

The need for proper training comes a year after Buffalo Bills star Demar Hamlin suffered a cardiac event on the field.

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — The storms that hit Pennsylvania Monday afternoon and evening knocked out power for thousands of residents.

According to PPL's website, hundreds of people all across the commonwealth have been without power for the last few hours.

As of 10:30 p.m. Monday evening, the numbers for outages are listed below.

Monroe County: 2,990
Wayne County: 177
Bucks County: 3,648
Union County: 793
Lehigh County: 19,349

Overall, there are almost 46,000 customers without power.

This is a developing story and 28/22 News will provide more information as it becomes available.

EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Martial arts students are typically intense and physical for various competitions. One local student who traveled to Puerto Rico for a competition had another hurdle to climb.

Chelsea Ferguson has been involved with karate for almost a decade now. Her passion for karate goes back to her early childhood and seeing her siblings in the sport.

"I really looked up to them so that was my motivation to do my best. Copy them and be as good as they were. Ever since then ever since I started I loved it," explained Ferguson, a black belt at Pocono Self Defense.

After many competitions and years of practice, she's been through a lot of tough days to get to where she is now.

CHESTNUT HILL TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — State police say a woman was found dead under a lawn mower in Monroe County.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, on July 11 troopers were called to a house in Chesnuthill Township for a report of a woman unresponsive.

Police say a 70-year-old woman, from Brodheadsville, was found dead on the scene underneath a riding lawn mower.

A death investigation was underway and troopers said there were no signs of foul play involved.

We're sad to report that tomorrow's Lavender Farm Visit, originally scheduled for Wednesday August 9th, is being postponed until September. We don't have an exact date, but we will have it soon. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Pocono Township’s TLC Dog Park (corner of SR 611 & SR 715) online registration is now live at the following link:

https://poconorecdept.recdesk.com/Community/Membership

This link is found on www.poconopa.gov under Facility Reservations & Memberships -> Memberships.

Please allow at least five (5) business days for processing. You do not need to be a Township resident to be a member of the dog park.

Registrations are handled through the Township’s RecDesk reservation system. Users will need to register in the system to process a membership application. If an individual is unable to complete an online application, print applications are available in the Township office.

BLAKESLEE, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— The search for an accused bank robber is over in Monroe County.

According to Chief Chris Wagner of the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, officers responded to the report of an active robbery at the PNC Bank on Route 115, Blakeslee, around 11:00 a.m. late Saturday morning.

Investigators say 28-year-old David Stucker from Wilkes-Barre entered the PNC Bank and attempted to cash a check while giving the teller two forms of ID. Stucker then handed the teller a note that demanded cash.

Police said the teller handed Stucker the cash and he fled the bank in his car.

MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Three have been charged after shots were fired in Monroe County.

On July 3, police say they were dispatched to a home on Hilltop Circle in Middle Smithfield Township for a reported 22-year-old gunshot victim.

Upon arrival, officials said the victim had a gunshot wound to the leg, along with other bullet holes found in the home of the victim.

Court documents stated that 18-year-old Rodrigue Laraque Jr. asked a female who had a prior relationship with the victim to schedule a meet-up with the victim.

We’re going on a field trip to Paradise Lavender Farm for a lovely stroll through a beautiful lavender field. Linda will give a tour and a lecture on the lavender-growing process. It’s sure to be a tranquil and informative afternoon! Registration required. Rain date TBA. Adults 18 and over only, please.

Call 570-894-8860 #2 or email joe@poconolibrary.org to register.

We’ll all meet in the parking lot

located at

5822 Paradise Valley Rd

Cresco, PA 18326

Two East Stroudsburg University marine science students spent part of their summer taking Coral Reef Ecology, a three-week traveling class offered at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, Va. – Ashlyn Augustine, a junior from Kutztown, Pa., and Rafael Del Valle, a senior from Canadensis, Pa.

The course began with one week at the field station in Virginia where they learned how to identify 180 species. Then, they spent two weeks in Roatan, Honduras where they dove 2-3 times a day along a variety of coral formations.

On Tuesday, July 25 East Stroudsburg University hosted a one-day camp in partnership with the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad.

The camp was for middle school aged children with an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The students did four STEM activities with the help of experienced Science Olympiad coaches.

The students were also given tours of a chemistry lab, the Schisler Museum and McMunn Planetarium, and ESU’s observatory, all located in the Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

The camp was offered to students free of charge thanks to a grant from the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation.

Visit our Flickr gallery to see more photos from ESU’s Pennsylvania Science Olympiad.

STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Monroe County students got a head start on back-to-school shopping and the best part is it's all free.

“I love it, Loretta, that’s my favorite color.”

That’s what one kid says all her friends at school will say when they see her new backpack.

Thursday afternoon Pocono United Way held their annual back-to-school backpack drive. Where kids were excited to pick out a new backpack to start off the new school year.

“I love it because people like to get free backpacks and things should be free for the people who don’t have any money allowed for them so then they can have something they can use,” said Loretta Brnestetter.

ALLENTOWN, P.A. – Congresswoman Susan Wild is urging veterans to apply for expanded benefits under the PACT Act ahead of Wednesday, August 9th.

Veterans who submit their “intent to file” for PACT Act benefits by August 9th will be eligible for retroactive benefits for the past year the law has been in effect. For too long, veterans had the burden of proving their illnesses were caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during their service. The PACT Act expands benefits for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their military service by adding new presumptive conditions for toxic substances including radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War toxins, and burn pit exposures.

A great book will not only take you to another world, but it will inspire you to go on a road adventure yourself.

And PMPL has books aplenty on that topic. In this photo alone is but a handful of great road trip books!

Before you hit the road, stop by our library for a great selection of road trip books! And if we don't have what you're looking for, we're more than happy to get your book from another library. Below is a list of books in this photo:

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Thomas Woolf

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary