The online mainstay and the grocery chain announced the deal Friday morning.

Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a deal valued at approximately $13.7 billion.

The online business will pay $42 per share for the grocery store chain, in a deal both businesses announced Friday morning. The all-cash deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017.

"Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy," Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a news release. "Whole Foods Market has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for nearly four decades -- they're doing an amazing job and we want that to continue."

John Mackey will remain as CEO of Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market will continue to operate under that brand name and keep its headquarters in Austin, Texas, according to the release.

The Lehigh Valley got its first Whole Foods last year, when the chain opened a store in Hamilton Crossings in Lower Macungie Township. The chain has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom

Amazon currently has fulfillment warehouses in Upper Macungie and Palmer townships.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The fire was believed to be 100 percent controlled as of midnight Thursday, an official said.

As many as 100 people either fought a wildfire or supported the effort Thursday on Blue Mountain in Northampton and Carbon counties, an official said.

The fire damaged an estimated five to seven acres of forest, some of it in Lehigh Township but about 95 percent in Carbon County, said Richard Deppen, assistant forester of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources District 17.

No one was injured despite the number of rattlesnakes on the mountain, Deppen said.

Blue Mountain fire draws responders

Firefighters came from Northampton, Lehigh and Carbon counties as well as the DCNR.

Friday's rain -- and even the higher humidity and cloud cover -- should take care of whatever fire remains, Deppen said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said. Crews were on scene from about 3:30 p.m. until midnight and District 18 DCNR personnel, who cover Carbon County, were expected back on Friday, he added.

No structures burned and no support from the air was used, Deppen said.

Pine trees and grasses provided fuel to the fire that was "running pretty good" at one point, he said. Greenbrier is another fuel on the mountain that if heated enough can "carry fire pretty good," he said.

"There's a lot of fuel up there," he added.

Eventually the fire encountered fuel that wasn't as conducive and as the sun set and the humidity rose, the firefighters began to prevail, Deppen said.

The shifting winds created added danger at the height of the blaze, Deppen said. He inspected char patterns that indicated "erratic winds," he said.

"When it shifts like that, it gets hairy," he said.

Emergency radio reports showed trucks being moved and firefighters adjusting for the challenge of the wind.

While fires over the years have burned out some of the heavier trees, there is plenty left to burn on the mountain, including trees killed by gypsy moths, he said. But the benefit of the regularity of the blazes is "we have a lot of experience fighting fire up there," he said.

"The biggest hurdle is access and rocks."

Leaves can get jammed into the rocks and fire can burn down through them, going underground and "popping up somewhere else," Deppen said. But at least fire travels slowly below the surface, he added.

There was a significant effort to support the firefighters, including EMS, fire police and logistics personnel, Deppen added.

The fire was under control about 9 p.m. and they figured it would be 100 percent controlled -- thus contained -- by midnight.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Colin Schucker threw a touchdown pass to Easton's Ben Nimeh.

With the Red team holding a 22-14 lead late in the third quarter of the McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic, Northampton's Colin Schucker found Easton's Ben Nimeh for a 22-yard touchdown pass for the Gold team.

A 2-point conversion later and the Gold team tied the Red squad 22-22 with 1:40 left in the quarter. The Gold team went on to clinch the 37-34 victory on Thursday night at Nazareth's Andrew Leh Stadium.

"I had the option to give it to our running back or just shoot it in there to him," Schucker said of the pass to Nimeh. "We've repped that so much in practice and it was just automatic. He made a nice play and just got into the end zone."

Along with the victory and playing for a great cause, the Northampton quarterback enjoyed his time with his Gold teammates.

"I'll be friends with these guys for a long time," Schucker said. "Coach (Kyle) Haas said it best before the game. It's a real special group. I'm at a loss of words. Just a great group of guys."

Schucker, who will study finance at Penn State, also got one more chance to play with fellow Konkrete Kid Jared Stauffer.

"It's cool to represent Northampton," Schucker said. "I've been through a lot of rough times in that program, lot of ups and downs. But it's cool to represent my teammates and coaches one more time."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The 34-year-old was charged with fleeing law enforcement and related charges, according to the Northampton County Sheriff's Department.

Luke Caffrey (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

Luke Caffrey, 34, is wanted to appear for a parole/probation review after pleading guilty to fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, simple assault and criminal mischief, according to the Northampton County Sheriff's Department and court records. 

Caffery, last known to frequent the Stockertown area, is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall and 240 pounds with black hair and hazel eyes.

The sheriff's department asks anyone with information about Caffrey to call Sgt. Michael Orchulli at 610-829-6520.

Dan Kendra Sr., Paul Reduzzi and Don Clemons.

Dan Kendra Sr., Paul Reduzzi and Don Clemons were inducted into the McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic Hall of Fame on Wednesday night at Northampton Community Center.

Kendra graduated as the all-time leader in passing and total offense at Allentown Central Catholic in 1974. As a senior, he was first-team all-state, a Prep All-American and nominated to play in the Big 33 game. He graduated as the all-time passing and total offense leader at West Virginia University, where he played for Bobby Bowden.

Reduzzi, a 1985 graduate of Pen Argyl, has coached the Green Knights football team since 2007. He played for the 1984 District 11 champion Green Knights. Reduzzi led Belvidere (1999) and Hopatcong (2001 and 2005) to New Jersey sectional titles. He has 140-98 overall coaching record. Reduzzi was on the coaching staff of the East squad in the 2014 East-West All-Star game and has coached in the McDonald's game four times.

Clemons, who is a 1972 graduate of Northampton, was an All Lehigh Valley League player for the Konkrete Kids. He was a second-team All-MAC defensive player at Muhlenberg College. Clemons then coached 13 years at the collegiate level, with stops at Kutztown, New Mexico State and Arizona State. He followed that with a 27-year career as an assistant for the Detroit Lions. Clemons is currently a defensive assistant at Moravian College.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

A replica of the national monument in Washington, D.C., has made a stop in Plainfield Township.

58,272. 

That is the number of U.S. service members missing in action or killed in the Vietnam War. That is the number of names enscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be on display at the Plainfield Township Community Park at 6101 Kesslersville Road through the weekend, until 8 a.m. Monday.

The traveling wall is a 3/5 scale version of the national monument in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1982. The traveling wall is almost 300 feet long and 6 feet tall in the center.

Wilson Borough resident Don Johnson and wife Donna attended a ceremony Friday night at the wall. Johnson served in Vietnam from December 1968 to June 1969.

Several of Johnson's friends have their names etched on the stone wall. Five months into Johnson's tour, four of his fellow squad members were killed during a battle.

On May 13, 1969, one more died from an exploding mortar round that also wounded Johnson. The next day, with Johnson recovering away from the action, his squad was hit hard, he said.

The shrapnel that hit his face ended up being a lucky break, Johnson said. All but two of his squad members died on May 14, 1969.

"There weren't enough able-bodied men to retrieve the dead right away," Johnson said. "The dead lay out there for two weeks before we could get back there. By that time, you couldn't tell who was who."

Honor roll: Valley residents who died in Vietnam

Johnson and his wife have traveled many times to Washington to see the memorial wall. The traveling replica provides an opportunity for people around the country who cannot get to the nation's capital to see the names of those who died and to honor them, he said.

There are several traveling walls that tour the country. The wall in Plainfield Township was built in 2004 and has visited 172 communities around the U.S. since then, according to the wall's manager Doc Russo.

The wall's travels are organized by the Florida-based nonprofit group Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard. Russo said they get over 300 requests each year for the wall but can only get around to about 18 events each year. There is a fee required that covers the costs of traveling and setting up the wall, Russo said.

Humble Hearts for Hope Inc., Warriors Watch Riders and the Eastern Pennsylvania Girls Scouts helped organize getting the wall and raising money to bring it to Plainfield Township.

A candlelight vigil and wreath-laying at the wall will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, but guests are welcome to visit around-the-clock until the wall is disassembled Monday morning at 8.

John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

Authorities in Northampton and Warren counties say they are looking for two suspects.

Northampton County authorities seek Luke Caffrey - fugitive of the week

Warren County authorities seek Dane Tallamy - fugitive of the week

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22 are aimed at the nonpartisan redrawing of legislative boundaries and maps.

Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced bills to reform the system that redraws legislative boundaries -- a system that critics charge is open to manipulation and can give a perfectly legal advantage to one political party over the other.

Partisan gerrymandering refers to the drawing of legislative district lines in a specific way in order to pack like-minded voters together, making districts overwhelmingly Democrat or Republican.

According to a recent study by the Electoral Integrity Project, Pennsylvania ranks third-worst in the nation for the fairness of its electoral boundaries.

One key example is Northampton County, which was part of the 15th Congressional District for 40 years, until it was carved into two districts after the 2010 census - with 52 percent staying in the 15th District that now stretches from Bethlehem to Hershey, and the other 48 percent moving to the 17th District that reaches north from Easton to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.

This map represents the 15th Congressional District in 1972, to which Northampton County belonged for 40 years. The 2010 census split the county into two districts - with 52 percent staying in the 15th Congressional district that now stretches from Allentown to Hershey and the other 48 percent going to the 17th district which goes from Easton to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. (Courtesy photo from Fair Districts PA) 

This map represents the 15th Congressional District in 2011. The 2010 census split the county into two districts - with 52 percent staying in the 15th Congressional district that now stretches from Allentown to Hershey and the other 48 percent going to the 17th district which goes from Easton to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. (Courtesy photo from Fair Districts PA) 

This map represents the 17th Congressional District in 2011. The 2010 census split the county into two districts - with 52 percent staying in the 15th Congressional district that now stretches from Allentown to Hershey and the other 48 percent going to the 17th district which goes from Easton to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. (Courtesy photo from Fair Districts PA) 

The Pennsylvania Constitution outlines how legislative districts should be drawn, giving the power to five leaders - two from each party and one neutral member.

Districts are redrawn every 10 years after the national census, with the next one taking place in 2020. Thus, if change is going to be made to the process, the goal is for it to be by then.

Although the guidelines say districts should be drawn as a "compact and contiguous territory" and "as nearly equal in population as possible," that is rarely the case.

Rather, critics say, political party leaders draw the districts with their own political gains in mind.

Why it matters

State Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, has introduced a bill in the state House to change that.

"(Party leaders') goals are political in nature," he said. "They'll draw the lines to benefit one party or the other. In some cases, they make deals with each other... without thinking about what makes sense for the citizens who live in those communities."

He said partisan gerrymandering often results in a lack of compromise between those in office, fewer choices and competition in elections, the inability to hold incumbents accountable and an alienation of voters. 

Carol Kuniholm, chairwoman of Fair Districts PA, said 86 percent of Pennsylvania's primary races were uncontested in 2016 and 50 percent of the general election races went unchallenged.

Fair Districts PA was founded in December by representatives from multiple organizations concerned about accountable government. It is a nonpartisan, citizen-led, statewide coalition organized to create a fair process for redistricting, according to its website.

"The reality is if the districts are drawn to be 'safe districts,' the legislatures are protected," Kuniholm said. "They don't have to listen to their people, they don't have to appeal to their people."

It can also result in economic harm, she said. Citing the Harvard Competitiveness Project, Kuniholm noted that the U.S. economy continues to be stagnant while others have rebounded more quickly. The project contends that the greatest detriment to the economy is a legislature that is not responsive to the American public - a ramification of gerrymandering.

There are economic implications to partisan #gerrymandering: inability to enact reasonable, balanced budgets is a big one. https://t.co/BX2i9IMpwi

-- Fair Districts PA (@FairDistrictsPA) June 12, 2017

Making a nonpartisan commission responsible for drawing districts would eliminate those problems and be more attentive to constituents' needs, Samuelson explained.

"(In) districts that are drawn in a very partisan way - with either party - the (elected officials) sometimes align themselves with the more extreme elements of that party," he said. "If you have a competitive district, the person elected to that seat is more likely to be responsive to the entire community, not just one extreme or the other."

Opinion: End gerrymandering in N.J. and Pa. 

How to fix it 

In May, Samuelson and state Rep. Eric Roe, a Chester County Republican, introduced House Bill 722. The bill seeks to create an 11-member nonpartisan commission to redraw congressional and legislative district maps.

The bill currently has 94 sponsors from both parties. Out of the 1,500 bills introduced in the House so far in 2017, HB 722 is tied for the second-highest number of cosponsors of any bill this year, Samuelson said.

"If you had a nonpartisan group of folks drawing the districts, you'd have districts that were more competitive, and then you'd have elections that were more competitive," Samuelson said. "The representation would be more closely aligned with each community."

Changing the state constitution is a two-year process. The bill must first be considered by the State Government Committee. Lawmakers must then approve it in one legislative session and then in another two years later, after the voters have had a chance to elect a different Legislature.

If it makes it past the Legislature twice, it goes on the ballot and voters get the final say on whether it is approved.

In order to have the bill take effect for the 2020 census, the first round needs to be passed by 2018.

The House bill contains strict guidelines for how the 11-member independent commission would be picked, Samuelson explained. It will consist of four citizens from one party, four from another and three who are not registered with either party.

There are limitations on membership. For example, those on the commission cannot have served as an elected official within the past five years or be the spouse of an elected official.

There are also two random selections to narrow down the candidates for the commission. Opposing party leaders are each afforded the opportunity to exclude six people they believe may have a partisan agenda.

With these limitations and guidelines in place, Samuelson believes it would be "impossible" to stack the commission and skew it in favor of one party.  

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, says her constituency has changed so frequently that people will call her, confused, not realizing that she is no longer their senator. (Courtesy photo) 

The bill was introduced with a companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 22. It was introduced by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, and Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Northampton/Monroe. 

Boscola said she has seen the negative implications of partisan redistricting first-hand. Her constituency has changed so frequently that people will call her, confused, not realizing that she is no longer their senator, she said. 

"Our state is looked at as a joke," she said. "Whatever party is in control, they dictate the lines. ...(Politicians) are listening to their party bosses and that's it. They're not really listening to the people. ... People are no longer electing their leaders."

What the public can do 

Similar bills have been introduced and shot down before, but the most important aspect of getting it passed will be public support, Samuelson said. Momentum is building and there has been a great deal of support for this initiative, he said.

"Party leaders do not want to give up this power... but we've got to change their mind, and I think strong public support across Pennsylvania will."

Proponents say the movement is gaining steam in large part due to Fair Districts PA, which has over 40 endorsing organizations and more than 100 volunteers statewide. Because it has so many members, it's able to meet one-on-one with representatives to advocate for reform.

"What I'm most appreciative for is the grassroots movement," Boscola said.

On Thursday, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and other individuals filed a lawsuit alleging that the state's congressional redistricting map is an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

If constituents want to have a real say in state elections, now is the time to speak out, Samuelson said. 

Samuelson and Kuniholm urge people to call House and Senate members in support of the reforms, or call on the House State Government Committee to push it for consideration.

"We are for sale to the highest bidder, which hurts everyone, besides the party leaders themselves," Kuniholm said. "Unless there's a groundswell of public support, the bill will not get passed."

Boscola echoed the call for public support, saying that if no one speaks out, nothing will change. Party leaders need to recognize that their re-election could be in jeopardy for them to change, she said.

"The system feeds the system," Boscola said. "If you don't think it's going to change, you're giving them what they want."

Alyssa Mursch may be reached at amursch@lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. 

The logo appeared to depict a peppermint candy and possibly stated, "Mint Condition," police said.

Police in Berks County are investigating a string of burglaries targeting commercial businesses and say one of the thieves was shown on surveillance video wearing a T-shirt with a peppermint candy logo on the back.

Caernarvon Township police posted on the department's website at least five businesses were broken into overnight from June 6 to June 7 and June 12 to June 13. The majority of the thefts occurred in Morgantown.

Store surveillance video caught the thieves in the act during one of the burglaries. One of the males shown in the footage is described as white and wearing a red T-shirt with the peppermint candy logo on the back.

Trucker shows handgun at Route 100 traffic signal, cops say

Police said there also is writing on the back of the T-shirt underneath the candy image, appearing to say, "Mint Condition," and another word that isn't legible. The thieves were seen getting into a dark green over tan older model Chevrolet Suburban, or similar vehicle, with a snowplow attachment on the front.

The thieves made off mostly with cash and electronics, according to a WFMZ-69 News report.

Anyone with information or recognizes the logo on the T-shirt is asked to call police at 610-286-1012.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Seven women have defamation suits pending in Massachusetts, while three more have defamation or sexual battery suits pending in California.

Bill Cosby's sexual assault case in Pennsylvania has ended in a mistrial, but the comedian's civil lawyers still are fighting lawsuits against him by 10 women around the country.

Currently, seven women have defamation suits pending in Massachusetts, while three more have defamation or sexual battery suits pending in California. Cosby has denied any wrongdoing.

The criminal case against Cosby partly stems from the accuser's related lawsuit. Prosecutors reopened a criminal investigation and filed charges in 2015 after Cosby's deposition in the woman's 2005 lawsuit was unsealed, and they realized the 12-year statute of limitations for felony sexual assault had not yet expired.

A recap of the pending civil cases:

___

CALIFORNIA

Cosby is being sued in Los Angeles by Judy Huth, who accuses the comedian of forcing her to perform a sex act on him in a bedroom of the Playboy Mansion around 1974, when she was 15. A trial date may be set later this month for the sexual battery case. Cosby has given a sealed deposition in the case. Huth's lawyer, Gloria Allred, says the scheduling of a second deposition was on hold because of the criminal trial.

Chloe Goins, a former model who claims Cosby drugged and sexually abused her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008, is also suing the comedian on sexual battery and other claims. Prosecutors rejected filing a case against Cosby based on Goins' allegations, which they said investigators could not corroborate. A judge recently denied Cosby's motion to dismiss the case, and a trial has been scheduled for June 2018.

The comedian also faces a defamation lawsuit by model Janice Dickinson, who claims Cosby drugged and raped her in Lake Tahoe, California, in 1982. Cosby is appealing a ruling allowing Dickinson's case to proceed.

___

MASSACHUSETTS

Seven women are suing Cosby for defamation in separate lawsuits pending in Massachusetts, where Cosby has a home in Shelburne Falls. They say he sexually abused them decades ago and then defamed them after they went public by having his agents deny the claims and brand them liars.

An eighth woman withdrew her lawsuit. And a federal judge dismissed a ninth accuser's case, finding her complaint inadequate.

The remaining plaintiffs are Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie. Cosby is seeking to have their cases dismissed. Serignese and Bowman attended the criminal trial near Philadelphia.

One trip is going to Harrisburg; another is going to Cincinnati.

The Slate Belt Heritage Center is hosting a bus trip to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg on Saturday, Sept. 16.

 

The bus will leave at 8 a.m. from Weiss Market, Route 512 in Bangor, and will return at 5 p.m.

The cost per individual is $95, which includes bus ticket and admission ticket into the museum.

Reservations are required and a light lunch will be provided.

Tickets are available at Bray's News, 36 Broadway and Heard's Market, 501 South Main St., both in Bangor. Contact: 610-588-0735.

***

St. Jude Church in Blairstown is hosting a Sept. 3-9 bus trip to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The cost is $649 per person, double occupancy, with a $239 extra charge for a single room. It includes 10 meals, admission to the Ark Encounter and to the Creation Museum, admission to Newport Aquarium, admission to largest zoo & botanical gardens in the world and a dinner party with entertainment.

Contact: 908-459-9210 or 862-220-2693. A deposit of $75 is required; full payment is due July 15.

The body of Kevin Woolf, 32, was found Saturday in thick woods near the Appalachian Trail, officials said.

Kevin Woolf was admired by friends and family as a man they could turn to for advice, cheer them up in times of sadness and mentor youngsters on the ropes of life.

His boss, Michael Kearney of ORC Racing in Portland, said Woolf quickly became a technician he could depend on, regularly working long hours just to finish jobs.

Woolf's girlfriend of several months, Cassandra Lynne Youngling, described him as her "hero" when she was experiencing unfortunate times in her life. The pair had a secret way of making each other smile by purposely mispronouncing words.

"Everything was fun and he had such a positive outlook," said Youngling, of Reeders in Monroe County, Pa. "With me, he always knew exactly what to say to get me out of my funk."

Woolf, an Upper Mount Bethel resident who recently moved to Reeders, was found dead about 5 p.m. Saturday after a five-day search in a heavily wooded area of Upper Mount Bethel, near the Appalachian Trail.

Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said Monday an autopsy has been completed, but more toxicology and other testing is needed to rule on the cause and manner of death.

Kearney said at 32, Woolf had a big future ahead of him.

"He was an outdoorsman. He was all about getting out into the woods and having a little fun. And enjoying life," he said.

Besides Youngling, Woolf is survived by his wife, Hannah Woolf, whom he recently separated from but remained friends with; his parents, Harry and Diane Woolf, of Mount Bethel; a sister, Melissa Woolf, of Mount Bethel; and two nephews.

Services are pending.

Body of missing biker found after 5-day search

Continuing investigation

Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast and the Northampton County Coroner's Office have shed few details on the circumstances of Woolf's death, which remains under investigation by both agencies.

He was reported missing Tuesday, and on Thursday state police said they found Woolf's 1997 Suzuki motorcycle and helmet in the area of the 800 block of Boulder Drive in Upper Mount Bethel. Friends and family said there were no signs the bike sustained a crash.

Friends said Woolf enjoyed riding his bike through trails and likely got lost once it got dark Monday. Woolf was believed to be riding the on-road/off-road bike back to his other home in the 2500 block of Mountain Road in Jackson Township when he went missing, state police had said.

"He got into something you can barely walk on," Kearney said of the trail the bike was found on. "Really good riders can ride through it and it's very hazardous and dangerous. It's really rough and downhill."

Youngling was the last person to hear from Woolf, receiving a call sometime Tuesday morning telling her he was on his way home. She previously received a text message Monday evening saying he had trouble with the bike, she said.

Woolf was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon and a search was launched into the evening. Kearney joined the search Wednesday when Woolf's motorcycle and helmet had been found on the Appalachian Trail, near the Northampton-Monroe County line, next to a burn pit.

Kearney and some friends recovered the motorcycle Saturday and carried it out of the woods with the permission of state police, he said. Kearney said he plans to give the bike to Woolf's family.

'Bright future'

A graduate of Bangor Area High School, Woolf also attended the Career Institute of Technology in Forks Township. He worked full-time for his father, Harry, who is a machinist, Kearney said.

Woolf initially was a customer of Kearney, mostly buying parts to work on his own vehicles. Over the years, he owned a Jeep, quads and several bikes. And the work he performed on those vehicles was flawless, Kearney said.

"He was an excellent technician. Really spot-on. He was super smart. He could do anything to a bike," Kearney said.

So much so that when Woolf inquired about a job at Kearney's shop about a year ago, he fit right in. The pair's working relationship grew into a friendship, with Kearney eventually coaxing Woolf into racing, he said.

Woolf rebuilt a KX 250 -- from top to bottom -- and raced the bike in the Northeast Off-Road Championship held at Blue Mountain Ski Resort.

"I like to think that's where me and him bonded a bit," he said. "I talked him into doing it."

Youngling also met Woolf through a mutual friend last November and the pair quickly formed a friendship before starting to date in March. The pair found a home together in recent months in Reeders and lived there with Woolf's former brother-in-law and best friend, Adam Schroll.

"Anytime anyone ever needed anything or couldn't understand something, they would say, 'Go to Kevin; he'll figure it out,'" Youngling said. "They would lean on him for advice because he was just so smart. He was someone who was so happy because he was making you happy."

Kearney said it's hard for people at the shop -- co-workers, clients and even total strangers who heard the news -- to believe Woolf is gone. Two customers who never met him before even helped in the search, he said.

"He really just had a big heart. It's a sad loss," Kearney said. "He didn't get to shine like he really could have."

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The Hellertown woman allegedly wanted to sell her prescription Xanax and have a teen serve as her 'proxy' during the deal.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a Hellertown woman accused of using a teen in a planned drug deal.

The boy, whose name was not released, was charged with theft and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance, Hellertown police said in a news release.

Police did not immediately respond to a message asking if the teen is the same boy Krystl Slifer is accused of planning to use at a drug deal in Quakertown, and if the teen has been charged as an adult or juvenile.

Slifer is accused of arranging over Facebook messenger to sell her prescription Xanax, and have a teen serve as her "proxy" during the deal. Slifer has denied the accusations, and claims the teens lied after allegedly burglarizing her apartment.

Woman molested teens on way to sell pills, cops say

Police said Slifer was driving to the deal with a 16-year-old and 17-year-old, when she grabbed at the teens' genitals multiple times during the trip, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and crash.

Slifer called police the night of May 14 to report the pair stole a bottle with 90 tablets of Xanax while she was getting treatment following a car crash. Police said that claim was disputed by the 16-year-old, who showed officers the Facebook messages between him and Slifer.

Slifer is charged with solicitation of minors to traffic drugs, unlawful contact with a minor, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver Xanax, indecent assault, unsworn falsification to authorities, filing a false police report and conspiracy to commit the corruption of minors.

She is free after posting 10 percent of $7,500 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

After a year of fundraising, the high school group gives a check to the Miracle League of Northampton County.

The Easton Angels of Easton Area High School presented the Miracle League of Northampton County with a check for $3,400 at its June 10 Miracle League game. Since the Angels was formed in 2012 the group have been a very important organization to the MLNC through continued participation at games and special events by providing buddies, video board operators, announcers and, when needed, help in the concession stand. Each of the past several years, the Angels have had fundraisers and the Miracle League has been one the benefactors. (Courtesy photo) 

The Miracle League of Northampton County honored two Super Volunteers.

In 2016, the Board of Directors of the Miracle League of Northampton County initiated a program to honor volunteers (normally seniors in high school) who have gone above and beyond to help their league and players. In 2017, the board chose two members of the Easton Angels group at Easton Area High School: Abbey Heimbach and Joe Salas as Super Volunteers. At a Miracle League game on June 10, both were honored and presented with a check for $500 and a plaque by vice president Ric Agretto. (Courtesy photos)  

The summer is jam-packed with carnivals, fairs and more.

The man said he used a car reader and a website to get between $100 and $150 on gift cards.

A driver who flagged down Allentown police for help with a damaged tire was arrested after officers found pot and a mobile gift card scheme, city police said.

Vincent Smith III, of Wilson Borough, was in the 2300 block of South Wood Street in Allentown when officers on patrol drove by and he asked for help in getting a tow truck.

Police said the black BMW had a temporary New Jersey plate and, as an officer went to get the Vehicle Identification Number, he could smell the odor of raw marijuana in the car.

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The officer asked Smith, 27, to get out of the car, and police said they found a baggie of marijuana behind the front passenger seat.

Officers also found numerous gift cards throughout the car, and a magnetic car reader in a backpack in the trunk, police said.

Smith reportedly told police he used the card reader and a website to activate the gift cards, and was able to use $100 to $150 in cards at various stores.

Smith, who lives in the 2300 block of Front Street in Wilson Borough, is charged with possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an instrument of a crime.

He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The team scored 15 runs to move onto to its 3rd game of the day.

Lehigh Valley scored two runs in each of its first three games in the Carpenter Cup softball tournament at FDR Park in Philadelphia.

In its fourth game of the tournament on Wednesday afternoon, Lehigh Valley's offense broke it in a big way.

Lehigh Valley scored four runs in the first inning, three in the second and eight in the fourth as it ran away with a 15-0 five-inning victory over Suburban One/Bicentennial Athletic.

"We just reminded them, 'hey, you've been hitting the ball since you're 7 or 8 years old. Just go see it and hit it. Stop pressing. Just relax, trust your teammates behind you, see what the pitcher's throwing.' And they did a good job with it. Sometimes one hit just opens up everything and that's what happened in that game," Lehigh Valley coach and Parkland assistant Blake Morgan said.

Lehigh Valley will play Delaware County West in another elimination game at 5 p.m. Wednesday

After Whitehall sophomore Rachel Arner singled and Southern Lehigh junior Danielle Barnes reached base on an error with one out in the first inning, Parkland junior Chelsea Morgan had an RBI single. Following a walk by Bethlehem Catholic junior Alexa Panuccio to load the bases, Northampton junior Heather Alich hit a three-run triple to make it 4-0 Lehigh Valley.

"I think when you have a new team and you're not used to playing with each other, it's easy to press and be tight. But I think we all kind of relaxed and just kind of let loose and played the game," Chelsea Morgan said.

"We had a little difficulty getting our bats going for a couple games. But this game they just woke up and you can definitely tell by all of our 15 runs," Alich said.

Lehigh Valley made it 7-0 in the second inning with a trio of triples. Bethlehem Catholic junior Jess Indelicato, Barnes and Morgan all had triples in the frame. Barnes' triple drove in two runs and Morgan's hit drove in a run.

"After the first inning, we scored a couple runs and we just kind of learned more about the pitcher (Cara Fabiano) and where she was throwing. We communicated really well, batter to batter, whether it was an out, a single or whatever it was, we could communicate to each other and learn from it," Chelsea Morgan said.

Lehigh Valley then scored eight runs in the fourth inning. Nazareth sophomore Daphney Adams had a two-run single in the frame. Blue Eagles junior Sky Esterly added an RBI single and Nazareth junior Paige Hahn also had an RBI single in the inning. Panuccio had two RBIs in the fourth, driving in a run in her first at-bat with a groundout and then hitting an RBI single her second time at the plate. Emmaus junior Alexis Ruth walked in the fourth inning and later scored after a lengthy rundown between third base and home plate.

Emmaus sophomore Hannah Palinkas struck out six and allowed only one hit and three base runners in four innings to earn the victory. Panuccio closed the game by allowing a hit and striking out two batters in the fifth inning.

Arner reached base three times and scored three runs for Lehigh Valley. Panuccio also reached base three times and had two RBIs.

The victory means a third game of the day for Lehigh Valley.

"For me, playing a tournament, I'm kind of used to it. It's not that big of a deal," Alich said. "But all day in the heat, it definitely wears on you over time. All you have to do is stay hydrated and keep eating and you're good to go."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The man, who said he was a driver with Uber and Lyft, has text messages where he offered the juvenile money and transportation for sex, police said.

An Allentown man who said he drives for Uber and Lyft is accused of arranging sex in exchange for money and transportation with a girl under the age of 18.

Hellertown police said they stopped 43-year-old Francisco Arias in the early morning of Jan. 12 in the 1000 block of Second Avenue in the borough, where he told officers he was picking up the juvenile girl.

Police said they received an anonymous call six days prior, where a tipster said the girl was exchanging sex for money. Police did not list the girl's age.

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At the traffic stop, Arias allowed officers to review a text conversation on his iPhone, police said. In the messages between Arias and the juvenile, and Arias and another female, Arias agrees to sell drugs for money, police said.

During a search of Arias' vehilce, police said they found a baggie of cocaine.

In an interview with police, Arias gave officers permission to view text messages on his phone. Police said there were several messages between Arias and the juvenile girl where he offered to pay her for sex with money and transportation.

Police said a lab report from Arias' phone showed "numerous" texts from Sept. 10 through Jan. 12, where he negotiated sex from the minor in exchange for money, marijuana and transportation.

Arias was arraigned Wednesday on charges of unlawful contact with a minor for prostitution, criminal use of a cellphone, corruption of minors, patronizing prostitutes, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with an obscured license plate.

During his preliminary arraignment on Wednesday, Arias said he works as a restaurant server and a driver for Uber and Lyft, but previously worked at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Arias is free after posting 10 percent of $5,000.

Arias said his wife and children live in Allentown, but after he was arrested, he wife kicked him out. Arias has been living and working in North Bergen, New Jersey, with his sister-in-law for the past two months.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The Konkrete Kids junior made it 4-0 in the 1st inning.

Lehigh Valley scored four runs in the first inning to take control of its 15-0 win over Suburban One/Bicentennial Athletic on Wednesday afternoon at the Carpenter Cup at FDR Park in Philadelphia.

Three of those four first-inning runs were knocked in by Northampton junior Heather Alich when she connected on a three-run triple.

See what Alich had to say after the convincing victory in the video at the top of this post.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.