The man allegedly told police he wanted to sell the clothing for "shelter and food."

A homeless man is jailed after allegedly trying to conceal nine pairs of shorts underneath his own shorts at Kohl's department store.

Lehighvalleylive.com file photo 

Charged is Walter Siberon-Hernandez, 43.

A loss prevention officer at Kohl's, 3768 Easton-Nazareth Highway, in Lower Nazareth Township at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday spotted Siberon-Hernandez trying to conceal the nine pairs of shorts, Colonial Regional police said. The clothing was valued at $203.

Siberon-Hernandez allegedly told police he needed to sell the shorts for "food and shelter." He proceeded to provide officers with false identification, police said.

Police later discovered Siberon-Hernandez was wanted on a parole violation out of Philadelphia in a dangerous drugs case. Police said Wednesday's incident was Siberon-Hernandez's first retail theft offense.

79-year-old pedestrian seriously hurt in Nazareth crash

Siberon-Hernandez is charged with theft and providing false identification to law enforcement. He was arraigned before District Judge James Narlesky, who set bail at $7,500. In lieu of bail, Siberon-Hernandez was taken to Northampton County Prison.

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

All over the Lehigh Valley, Memorial Day will be marked with parades, ceremonies and other events.

Events marking Memorial Day range from solemn to festive and take place all weekend long.

Steelstacks in Bethlehem is once again hosting a three-day event honoring the women and men who died while serving the United States.

Our Hometown Heroes, in its 7^th year at the Steelstacks campus, features a living memorial. "The campus will be draped with images of local military heroes as a display of appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifices and contributions," according the Steelstacks website. Banners around the campus will feature photos and information of soldiers.

A Remember our Heroes Luminary Display will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday. Donations from the purchase of luminaries, which will be sold 3-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will be donated to the Lehigh Valley chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers.

Live music will be featured from 3 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 to 11 p.m. Sunday and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. For a full list visit steelstacks.org/memorial-day/

A Time to Remember memorial service will take place 5 p.m. on Monday at Levitt Pavilion.

***

On Saturday, American Legion Brown & Lynch Post No. 9 of Palmer Township will hold a Memorial Day ceremony starting at 8:45 a.m. It is set for the veterans section of Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Road in Palmer. Guest speaker will be state Rep. Bob Freeman.

Sunday, May 28

A Memorial Day candlelight ceremony for veterans and first responders begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans Rally Point/Veterans Memorial at Lopatcong Municipal Park in Lopatcong Township. (Park entrance is located next to the Lopatcong Emergency Squad on Belvidere Road)

An Honor Bell Ceremony will be conducted by the Lehigh Valley Fleet Reserve Association Branch 115 (Marine, Navy, Coast Guard Veterans). A roll call will include the names of deceased veterans and first responders. A candlelight vigil will be held during the ceremony; white glow sticks will be provided.

The Lopatcong Athletic Association will be selling food and soft drinks beginning at 5 p.m. in the Lopatcong Pavilion. A youth baseball and softball game will begin at 4 p.m.

A New Jersey Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter (UH-60) is scheduled to land about 6 p.m.

Those wishing to purchase a flag for the Field of Flags can do so for $3 at the pavilion. Bring a lawn chair.

***

Williams Township residents will hold a Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony 6 p.m. Sunday at the Williams Township Municipal Building, 655 Cider Press Road.

Elaina Reichard Wood, serving with the U.S. Coast Guard, will deliver the address.

Carl Oddo, a veteran from the township, will lay a wreath at the base of the memorial to the township's fallen heroes, whose names will be read by John Hogan.

Mark Ernst, Williams Township supervisor, will convey greetings on behalf of the community; Abigail Sagrestano, Amanda Finnegan and Marissa Spencer of Girl Scout Junior Troop 889 will describe a project showing what Memorial Day means to a Girl Scout.

Attendees are urged to bring their own chairs.

***

The annual South Side Easton Memorial Day service, sponsored by Rice-Ebner American Legion Auxiliary Unit #588, will be held 1 p.m. Sunday in McKeen Park, adjacent to the fire station at Berwick and Reynolds streets. The guest speaker will be Pastor Joe Grasser of Christ United Methodist Church.

Remarks will also be offered by Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., and Jamiel Curto, commander of Post 588 and several unit officers. Musical selections will be offered by the St. Joseph's Men's Choir. In the event of rain, the program is canceled.

***

In Blairstown, the Givens-Belet Memorial Day Parade steps off Sunday after a  memorial service, which will be held in Cedar Ridge Cemetery (across from Tractor Supply on Route 94) beginning at noon. The parade begins at the ceremony and concludes at Footbridge Park with free refreshments.

***

The Hackettstown Rotary Club is hosting a Memorial Motor Madness Car Show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Mars Chocolate/North America facility on High Street.

The event features 21 classes of cars with awards. It benefits Hackettstown Medical Center and other Rotary-supported charities.

Aside from hundreds of cars, music, food and fun, a moment of silence and the singing of the national anthem will be a part of the festivities. DJ Doc South will call on attendees to make donations for the purchase of phone cards to be given to service members.

Admission is $5 for those over age 12. Information/car registration: 908-850-7005 or hackettstownrotary.org.

Monday, May 29

The 118^th Anniversary Easton Memorial Day parade gets underway after the Brown & Lynch American Legion Firing Squad renders honors at the GAR Plot at Easton Cemetery, at 9 a.m.

By 10:30 a.m. the parade will have formed and will be led by the Easton police motorcycle unit, Palmer police, Wilson Borough police, the Northampton County Sheriff's Department, Parade Marshal John W. Krebs Sr. and Memorial Day Council President Joseph Cuvo.

Three divisions are listed to march including the Easton Area High School Band, the Shawnee Middle School Band, several Scout troops, dignitaries and representatives of area fire, police and EMS departments.

Marching units and the motorcade remain on Northampton Street through Centre Square to the free bridge. The Easton Area High School band will play the national anthem and honors will be rendered on the south side of the bridge by firing detail form the Bernadine May American Legion Post 457 and Brown & Lynch American Legion Post 9. Taps with echoes will be rendered by buglers from both the Easton and Phillipsburg high school bands, and flowers and a memorial wreath will be dropped into the Delaware River by Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis. Ceremonies continue in Scott Park.

***

On the Phillipsburg side, the Phillipsburg Memorial Day parade will kick off from Abbott and South Main streets at 9 a.m. and will march to Shappell Park for a ceremony. Following the ceremony at Shappell Park, the parade will continue down South Main Street to the free bridge to join members of the Easton parade.

***

The Hackettstown Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. near the post office on Washington Street. The parade will march to Grand Avenue and Main Street, ending at Union Cemetery on Mountain Avenue, with a Memorial Day service conducted by the American Legion. The parade takes place rain or shine.

***

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held in Bangor beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John's Cemetery, on 6^th Street and Founders Park on South Main Street. Guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright. The program is sponsored by the Bangor American Legion, Bangor Veterans of Foreign Wars and Bangor Elks.

In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at the Bangor VFW, 202 Washington Blvd.

***

The West Bangor Memorial Association will hold its annual Memorial Day program 11 a.m. at the memorial site, on Second Street, West Bangor.            

This year marks the 70th anniversary of continuous Memorial Day services in West Bangor. The program will include the recognition of seven living World War II veterans whose names are listed on the memorial plaque in West Bangor.

Col. Terry J. Young, a native of Pen Argyl and graduate of Pen Argyl Area High School, will speak. Young is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The Roper Quartet will render musical selections. Tanner Barr and Gianna Greggo, students at Pen Argyl Area High School, will give recitations of "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address" and "In Flanders Fields." Walter Cole and Kyle Schmidt will play taps in honor of deceased service men and women.

The Rev. Msgr. Vincent P. York, pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Pen Argyl, will offer the invocation and benediction.

In case of inclement weather, services will be held at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church social hall, Verona Drive, West Bangor. The public is invited.

***

A Memorial Day service will he held 1 p.m. at East Bangor Cemetery on Park Road. The speaker will be Vietnam veteran Brian Koehler.

There will be a roll call of those veterans who have died in the past year and are now buried at East Bangor Cemetery. Domenic Martocci will recite "The Gettysburg Address" and Jamie Wickett will recite "In Flanders Fields." Musical selections will be offered by Ellis Williams.  A gun salute will be fired by the Martocci-Capobianco Post 750 American Legion, Roseto. Taps will be played by Jordyn Taylor.

In case of rain, the service will be held at East Bangor United Methodist Community Church, 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512). For information, call 610-588-4453.  

See the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams.

3,200 relays getting it done, long jump hardware, and more.

Two relay survivors. Only two Lehigh Valley relays survived until Saturday’s finals, both in the girls 3,200 race. Southern Lehigh’s double-twin foursome of Sarah Yanega, Brianna VandeBunte, Alissa VandeBunte and Allyson Yanega ran a splendid time of 9 minutes, 23.53 seconds, the fourth-fastest qualifying time, in the 3A competition, finishing just behind top-seeded North Penn (9:23.18) in their heat. “We think North Penn will have a little extra tomorrow,” Sarah Yanega said. That may be, but the Spartans look in good shape to medal (top six). “We wanted to save our last race together for Saturday at states,” Brianna VandeBunte said. Southern Lehigh has one accomplishment already: that 9:23.53 is the fastest time ever run by a Colonial League team. Wilson moved on in the 2A competition as Jillian Pote, Gaby Vega, Ashley Hemley and Abby Rustay ran 9:59.78, the 10th fastest time of the 12 finalists.

Boys medal twice in long jump. The 2A boys long jump proved productive for District 11 athletes. Salisbury junior Jack Reichenbach took sixth with a jump of 21 feet, 4¼ inches, the same distance Palisades sophomore Josh Volak jumped for seventh (Reichenbach was awarded sixth due to a better second jump). Both have jumped further in the past but were pleased to walk away with PIAA hardware. “I had a jump that I think might have won (the winning distance was 22-6¼ by Schuylkill Valley’s Brendan Sparr) but I fouled on it and I was pretty upset,” said Reichenbach, who jumped 23-5½ to win the D-11 meet. “But that’s a lesson learned, and I am just happy to be able to place.” Reichenbach added a second medal later Friday when his 6-2 high jump earned him sixth place. Volak climbed the medal stand for the first time. “It was kind of disappointing to jump the distance I did but I placed,” he said. “I had a slump in the middle of the season but my coaches worked with on a lot of things and that really helped.” 

A medal for Northern Lehigh. Senior Jill Olewine took eighth in the 2A long jump at 17 feet, 3 inches.

Full stands. Despite a cool and overcast – and occasionally rainy – day, the stands at Shippensburg’s Seth Grove Stadium were well-packed. This is a common sight on Saturdays at states but somewhat unusual for Friday. Advice for Saturday? Get there early.

Moving on. Nazareth’s Julian Liaci (3A 100 and 200), Saucon Valley’s Talitha Diggs (3A 200 and 400), Wilson’s Aimee Badman (2A 100), Wilson’s Job Goodman (3A 110 hurdles), Easton’s Katrell Thompson (3A 110 hurdles), Palisades’ Sophie Doman (2A 1,600) and Palisades' Michael Creighton (2A 200) all advanced to Saturday’s semifinals (100, 200, 110 hurdles) or finals from Friday’s preliminaries.

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

After he was disappointed in the 100 final Saturday, Liaci originally decided to skip the 200 final before changing his mind.

Julian Liaci had had enough of track and field Saturday afternoon.

So much so that the Nazareth senior was planning to scratch out of his final race, the PIAA 3A 200-meter final.

“I was going to scratch,” Liaci said. “I didn’t feel I had any energy left.”

That would have been an odd ending to one of the region’s better sprinting careers, and perhaps that thought was brought Liaci back to compete and finish seventh overall in 22.12 seconds. It was Liaci’s second medal of the day, though he wasn’t much thrilled with his eighth-place finish in 10.93 seconds in the 100.

“It stinks,” he said immediately after the 100 when his plan was to scratch the 200. “I have not had a lot of success in the 100 at states (two sixths and an eighth). I don’t know what happened in the 100. I don’t have any excuses and I should have done better.”

Perhaps it was the thought of not leaving his scholastic career on that kind of note that brought Liaci back for the 200. While he has run faster (his best is 21.60) Liaci offered a strong and competitive effort in the 200 final.

“I realized I am trying to leave a legacy, winning District 11 in the 100 and 200 and breaking records, so I decided to come back and run the 200 and go out of the sport with a medal. I was really disappointed in the 100, and I had to kind of over to my own little place for a while. I realized I couldn’t keep my head down. It’s like when you’re playing football and you drop a pass – you have to put your head down and come back and make the next play, catch the next pass. I felt like I did that by running in the final.”

Liaci did say he could have used a hand from a usually neutral source.

“I could have gotten some help from Mother Nature,” he said. “The weather for the District 11 200 (that 21.60) was perfect, warm but with the sun down and nice. (Saturday) was cold and rainy and that didn’t help.
Liaci is a little more focused on the 100, where he’s a three-time D-11 champ, than the 200 and he admitted he could have taken a different approach to the PIAA meet.

“I should never have entered the 200 and just run the 100,” he said.

But once he entered the 200, Liaci eventually realized he had to finish the job.

“I wish I’d done better but I am glad I ran the 200 final,” he said. “All my best friends like Travis (Stefanik) and Jahan (Dotson, now at Peddie School) were to watch with my family, and  I have a medal I can always remember this day from.”

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

All you need to know.

Highlighted by a pair of high jump golds, Lehigh Valley athletes won 17 medals at the PIAA track and field championships Friday and Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium at Shippensburg University.

Notre Dame’s Greg Lauray and Palisades’ Lydia Bottelier provided a Lehigh Valley sweep of the 2A high jump first-places.

The complete list of local medalists:

BOYS 3A

Seventh: Julian Liaci, Nazareth (200); Eighth: Julian Liaci, Nazareth (100)

GIRLS 3A

Silver: Morgan Sherwin, Parkland (high jump); Bronze: Rachel Tanczos, Bethlehem Catholic (discus); Sixth: Talitha Diggs, Saucon Valley (400); Seventh: Talitha Diggs, Saucon Valley (200)

BOYS 2A

Gold: Greg Lauray, Notre Dame (high jump); Sixth: Jack Reichenbach, Salisbury (2; long jump and high jump); Sixth: Matt Siley, Palisades (triple jump); Seventh: Michael Creighton, Palisades (200); Seventh: Josh Volak, Palisades (long jump)

GIRLS 2A

Gold: Lydia Bottelier, Palisades (high jump); Fourth: Alexa Parks, Palisades (high jump); Seventh: Lydia Bottelier, Palisades (2; 200 and 400); Eighth: Jill Olewine, Northern Lehigh (long jump)

PIAA team titles went to Carlisle (3A boys), North Penn (3A girls), Hickory (2A boys) and Neumann-Goretti (2A girls).

Follow the links below for full coverage of the PIAA track and field championships.

Notre Dame's Lauray high jumps to history with second PIAA title

Palisades' Bottelier 'super-excited' to be state high jump champ

Parkland's Sherwin ends high jump career with state silver

Wilson's Goodman hunts down bronze medal in PIAA high hurdles

Palisades' Doman sends time plummeting in PIAA 1,600 race

Becahi's Tanczos all set for college after PIAA discus medal

On second thought, Nazareth's Liaci takes medal in PIAA 200 dash

Saucon Valley's Diggs disappointed in PIAA sprint finals performance

Palisades' Creighton, Bottelier go into PIAA state track medal book together

5 quick takes from Day 1 of the PIAA track and field championships

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

Gabrielle Flank, of Nazareth, survived childhood cancer. Those experiences have allowed her to start two businesses by 19.

Gabrielle Flank, at age 19, has a list of accolades: she co-owns a business with her sister and has just started another, travels the country as a guest speaker and has a social media following far bigger than most her peers.

Flank, of Nazareth, is also a childhood acute lymphatic leukemia survivor, first diagnosed with cancer at age 10. She has been cancer free for more than five years.

Although she says she would never wish her cancer on anyone, it is that experience that has influenced her life tenfold, allowing her the time to become an entrepreneur.

Flank will graduate June 7 from Commonwealth Charter Academy, a school she enrolled in this academic year so she could focus on her business endeavors and other hobbies, a new experience she says she wouldn't change for the world.

When Flank was diagnosed with cancer, she was first made aware of the harmful chemicals that were in makeup products she used. This led her and her sister to create their business, called "The Frosting Company," which is the girls' own line of natural makeup products free of gluten, parabens, sulfates, phthalates and artificial preservatives.

"I remember us first fooling around in the kitchen in 2014," Flank's sister, Brittney recalled. "It all started from there."

Brittney, 25, says their idea to make a business out of the products they created was perceived as a stretch by some of their friends and peers, but the two were fortunate to have parents who supported them.

The two girls, who are also strong in faith, feel their business was what God called them to do. For that reason, Gabrielle and Brittney also donate portions of business proceeds to find a cure for childhood cancer.

Town marches for cancer in Relay for Life (PHOTOS)

During a recent interview, the two sisters chatted with one another with ease, often finishing each other's sentences and laughing at inside jokes.

"She's my best friend and someone I've always looked up to. I couldn't ask for a better partner or someone to do all this with," Gabrielle said.

Kevin Ague, who is Gabrielle's web design teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy, said he has never met anyone quite like Gabrielle.

"I remember when she first shared her story with me, tears welled up in my eyes. It was just such an inspiring story she made good out of," Ague said. "I admire how she felt there needs to be a healthier way of living because of her cancer and she did something about it."

Ague, whose wife and daughter have sensitive skin, have benefited from products by The Frosting Company. In turn, Ague has helped the Flank sisters make changes to their business website designs.

After graduation, Gabrielle is undecided where she will attend college, but said she will major in business and continue her work with The Frosting Company and her other business, Inspiring Honey, a website in which she hopes motivates and inspires others.   

"At the end of the day, I believe God will show me what to do," she said.

Ashleigh Albert is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The drug deal occurred in the 100 block of Mauch Chunk Street in the borough, police said.

A Bushkill Township man went to jail after a witness allegedly saw him exchange cash for drugs outside a Mauch Chunk Street home.

Charged is Vincent James Morrissey, 24, of the 300 block of West Mountain Road.

Nazareth police were called at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday to the 100 block of Mauch Chunk Street for a possible drug deal. A witness reported seeing a male described as white, about 200 pounds with short brown hair and wearing a grey sweatshirt get into a silver Honda carrying a backpack.

The witness said he gave the driver of the Honda cash and placed two plastic bags with a green substance into the backpack. The man then got out of the Honda, placed the backpack in the trunk of a Nissan Maxima parked across street and entered a Mauch Chunk Street home.

An officer located Morrissey, who matched the description of the man provided by a witness. Morrissey did not confirm or deny illegal substances were inside the Nissan, but didn't give the officer permission to search his vehicle, according to police.

The officer then called for a police dog. The dog provided evidence of possible drugs in the trunk of the Nissan, police said.

The officer then searched the trunk and seized two bags of marijuana inside the backpack. The marijuana totaled a half-pound, court records indicate.

Morrissey is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge James Narlesky, who set bail at $15,000. The judge ordered Morrissey to undergo Pretrial Services and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. The judge allowed 10 percent of $15,000 bail if Pretrial Services approved it.

In lieu of bail, Morrissey was taken to Northampton County Prison. Online records show he has since posted bail.

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

Memorial Day is a federal holiday. Most government offices, financial institutions and libraries are closed.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed every year on the last Monday in May.

It honors those who died while serving in the U.S. military. It is traditional to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon and then raise it until sundown.

Memorial Day originated after the American Civil War to honor both the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. The holiday was later extended to include all American soldiers. This day is not to be confused with Veterans Day in November, which recognizes the service of all U.S. military veterans.

In the Lehigh Valley, there are many events that mark Memorial Day. Check out our list of events, parades and activities.

In addition to federal offices, state and local government offices are closed, which means no mail delivery.

Here's a rundown of what else is closed.

Liquor stores: In Pennsylvania, liquor stores that are normally open Mondays will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Jersey liquor stores are privately owned and hours vary by location.

Department of Motor Vehicles: New Jersey DMV offices and Pennsylvania driver's license centers are closed.

Libraries: In New Jersey, four branches of the Warren County Library system, the Phillipsburg Free Public Library, the Hackettstown Free Public Library and WH Walters Free Public Library, in Alpha, are all closed. In Pennsylvania, the Easton Area Public Library, Bethlehem Area Public Library, Hellertown Library, Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity and Allentown Public Library are all closed.

Money and markets: The New York Stock Exchange is closed. Most banks and financial institutions are closed. Online banking and ATMs will remain available, though transactions such as transfers may not show up until the next business day.

Public transportation: LANtaBus and LANtaVan services will not operate. TransBridge on Monday will follow a normal Sunday schedule, with no Wall Street service.

Email KJ at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The investigation is continuing, authorities say.

A 79-year-old Nazareth woman died Sunday night after being struck by a pickup truck Wednesday afternoon in the borough, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office reports.

Charmaine Lichtenwalner, of the first block of Center Square, was struck about 4:25 p.m. at East Center and Broad Street, the coroner's office said.

EARLIER: Pedestrian hurt in Nazareth crash

She was pronounced dead at 10:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, the coroner's office said.

An autopsy was planned Tuesday to determine the cause and manner of Lichtenwalner's death.

A 57-year-old woman from Bushkill Township was driving the Chevrolet Silverado, borough police said last week.

Lichtenwalner's death is being investigated by the coroner's office and borough police.

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

The alleged thieves fled police before crashing on the warehouse property.

A C&S Wholesale warehouse employee and another man both are jailed in a scheme to steal $11,000 worth of baby formula from the supply company.

Alberto Portes, left, and Elvis Polcano, right. (Courtesy photos) 

Charged are Alberto Portes, 25, of the 600 block of North Law Street, and Elvis Polcano, 20, of the 200 block of South 14th Street, both in Allentown.

Colonial Regional police earlier this month began investigating the theft of baby formula cases from C&S Wholesale warehouse, 4820 Hanoverville Road, Lower Nazareth Township. Employees told investigators the capers were using the identification card of Portes, an employee, to gain access into the building and fleeing in a white Kia SUV.

Drunken driver had stolen pistol in traffic stop, cops say

Police were called to the warehouse at 5:06 a.m. Saturday by the company's security team for a report of someone scanning Portes' card to gain access into the building. A security officer told police he observed on surveillance camera footage two people -- later identified as Portes himself and Polcano -- enter the building.

Two others then were seen driving a white Kia SUV and grey Acura SUV, respectively, around to the side of the warehouse. Portes and Polcano used a forklift and pallet jack to remove the cases of formula from the shelves and brought the cases to a loading dock, where the vehicles were waiting, a security officer told police.

Police said the baby formula was being loaded into vehicles as Colonial Regional officers arrived on scene. As officers tried to stop the Acura, driven by Polcano, he steered straight toward one of the cruisers, causing an officer to swerve to miss a head-on collision, according to police.

Polcano allegedly went speeding through the warehouse parking lot with police in pursuit. At one point, the Acura was on two wheels, police said.

Eventually, Polcano crashed the Acura into a gate on the property and both he and Portes were arrested. Officers seized baby formula cases from both the Acura and later, from the Kia. Both vehicles were impounded.

Portes allegedly admitted to investigators in being involved in the baby formula thefts and said Polcano also was involved, as well as a third male he only knew by the name of "Papo." Court records do not indicate anyone else charged yet in the scheme.

C&S investigators listed the total value stolen in the thefts was 120 cases of formula, totaling $11,008, court records state.

Portes is charged with two counts theft while Polcano is charged with two counts theft and reckless endangerment. Both were arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III, who set bail at $65,000 each.

In lieu of bail, both Portes and Polcano were taken to Northampton County Prison.

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

Injuries did not appear to be severe in the crash, which happened in the southbound lanes.

A crash about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday on Route 33 South in Lower Nazareth Township slowed traffic, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Injuries were not severe, according to dispatches. The crash was between the Route 248 and Hecktown Road interchanges, PennDOT said.

Traffic was disrupted but moving slowly, a PennDOT traffic camera showed.

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

After thousands of photos and weeks of formal wear, prom season 2017 is finally winding down in the Lehigh Valley.

After weeks of gown selections, tux rentals and loads of pictures, the prom season is finally winding down.

We've done our part to bring you the scenes of arriving prom-goers for dozens of local high schools.

In the photo gallery above, get a look at some of our selections of favorite prom photos of the spring 2017 season.

Be sure to check out photos from all of the proms we've covered so far this year.

Saed Hindash may be reached at shindash@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SaedHindash. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

The festival is scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Nazareth.

Food, drinks and live music will flood the streets of downtown Nazareth this weekend as the borough hosts it's second annual food truck festival noon to 6 p.m. Saturday on Belvidere Street.

The Nazareth Bath Regional Chamber of Commerce is working with The Greater Lehigh Valley Mobile Food Alliance to host the event, which will include 12 of the alliance's food trucks. 

Along with a variety of food options, the festival will also have a beer tent and a tricky tray raffle to benefit The Nazareth Center of the Arts. 

See the crazy new foods Coca-Cola Park's offering this year

Food will include barbecue, sandwiches, smoothies, cupcakes,  rice balls, stuffed pretzels, pizza and more. Participating vendors include: 

• Aioli
• Blendlife
• Fired Up Artisan Oven
• The Little Sicilian Rice Balls
• Uncle Paul's Stuffed Pretzels
• Meat Wagon BBQ
• Mad Sandwiches
• Rollin Dough
• Stuffed to the Grills
• WOW Wagon
• The Pirate  Cupcake
• Grilled Cheese Cafe 

Live entertainment will be provided throughout the event.

The entertainment lineup is as follows:  

12 to 1 p.m.: Chuck Longenecker-Streetbox Strummer 

1 to 2 p.m.: Erin Kelly 

2 to 3 p.m.: Miller's Way 

3 to 4 p.m.: RUST 

4 to 5 p.m.: Steve Kirchuk 

5 to 6 p.m.: John Roy

Those looking for additional information can call the chamber office at 610-759-9188.  

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

The woman died Sunday four days after being struck at East Center and Broad streets.

Charmaine Lichtenwalner lived most of her life across from Nazareth Moravian Church, along the borough's Center Square.

The 79-year-old woman who died after being struck by a truck lived in a stone house and raised five children. She later became a grandmother to 23 children and nine great grandchildren. She was married to her husband, Hale Lichtenwalner, for 59 years.

It's unclear where Lichtenwalner was headed at 4:24 p.m. May 24 when she was struck by a pickup truck at East Center and Broad streets. She was taken to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, where she died Sunday surrounded by family.

Nazareth woman dies days after being hit by pickup truck

The female driver of the pickup, a Bushkill Township woman, has not been identified by police. Nazareth Officer Alan Koch this week said more information would be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.

The driver has not been charged in the accident.

Lichtenwalner was well known in Nazareth, a woman at Lichtenwalner's home said Wednesday. Lichtenwalner often enjoyed walking through the downtown and was known for her summer yard sales.

Aside from Hale and her mother, Mary Frey, Lichtenwalner leaves behind her sons, Todd Lichtenwalner and Doug Lichtenwalner and his wife Annette, of Nazareth; and daughters, Tracey Harper and her husband Tim of Philipsburg, Centre County; Kelly Moore and her husband, Kenny, of Reading; and Tara Hicks and her husband Jim of Bath.

She also is survived by her brothers, Tim Frey and his wife Mary Lou of Nazareth; and Jeff Frey of Easton; as well as her sister, Sandra Richline and her husband Bob, of Easton.

She was predeceased by her father, Richard Frey, and a brother, Richard Frey Jr.

A private burial is being planned for Thursday. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 10 at Benders Mennonite Church, 975 Benders Church Road in Plainfield Township. Services are being handled by Schmidt Funeral Home in Nazareth.

Lichtenwalner grew up in Tatamy and graduated from Nazareth Area High School, as well as East Stroudsburg University. She was a member of Benders Mennonite Church and a zealous Christian, family members said.

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

The film focuses on female empowerment in the 1960s, Nazareth filmmaker Michael Owen said.

An independent filmmaker Thursday plans to take over the downtown streets of Nazareth.

Michael Owen, a native of Kentucky who moved to the borough in 2012, will film, "Control," a flick based on the changing roles of women in the early 1960s. The film follows five female characters and the choices they have to make between socioeconomic statuses and the changing times.

"'Control' is the story of the changing perception of women in America," Owen said on the movie's website. "The quiet but unmistakable presence of Jacquelyn Bouvier Kennedy and her assertion before, during, and after her husband's assassination in the 1960's, pave the way for many American women to question the 'control' that has been placed over them for so very long."

People are venturing farther than they ever have before on new interstate highways, and this freedom to travel and the rise of the divorce rate in the early 1960s have many women entering the workplace due to this new change, Owen says on his site.

This spawns a new era in the decisions and choices that women are making with regards to where they live, whom they are with and what they will or will not settle for in their relationships, he said.

Owen and his wife, Jennifer Owen, executive producer, will use 25 classic cars, spanning 1948 to 1961, and an estimated 400 pieces of wardrobe. Police will shut down Main Street from Mauch Chunk Street to the circle for most of Thursday.

Owen also is filming the facade and interior of the 18,400-square-foot Nazareth National Bank building, 76 S. Main St. The classic federal building went up in the 1900s and now is vacant after being sold on May 8 to Main Street Nazareth LLC.

Owen on Wednesday was beginning to stage the inside of the bank building for the film. He plans to film council chambers, 159 W. Center St., on Friday and move to a private borough residence by Saturday, he said.

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

The commencement ceremony was held at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem.

Nazareth Area High School held its commencement Wednesday night at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem.

Nazareth Area High School's Valedictorian was, Eliza Peterson. The Salutatorian was, Abigail Richter. 

Check out the celebration by scrolling through the photos atop this post.

Nazareth High prom 2017 (PHOTOS)

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Be sure to check out our complete graduation coverage at lehighvalleylive.com/graduation.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

No injuries were reported in the blaze in Northampton County.

A tractor-trailer hauling 5,000 pounds of butane lighters caught fire and spread to two other rigs and a small building Thursday in East Allen Township.

The trucks were parked at Central Transport, a trucking business at 6955 Chrisphalt Drive, about 10 a.m. when the truck carrying the lighters is believed to have ignited.

No one was inside that truck or the two other tractor-trailers -- one storing pool floatation devices -- at the time of the blaze, said township Manager Deborah Seiple.

It's unclear how many people evacuated from the small building where the fire spread, but Seiple said everyone got out safely. There were no reported injuries, she said.

The tractor-trailers were each 50-feet in length, Seiple said. A plume of black smoke could be seen for miles shortly after the fire broke out. A cause wasn't immediately available.

"There is no danger to any of the surrounding properties," Seiple said.

Fire officials from more than a dozen fire departments responded to the call and quickly extinguished the flames. Crews from Lehigh Valley International Airport deployed foam across the building, Seiple said, and a nearby stream was being checked by environmentalists.

Bath's Mayor Fierella Reginelli-Mirabito said no evacuation orders were in effect in the region and the school district, which was on an early dismissal, was to continue with that plan.

Jonathan Bateman, who works about a half-mile from building, said the smoke was initially black and people were running around at the transport company as he walked up there.

Fire companies from "absolutely everywhere" appeared to get the fire "relatively" contained, he said.

"We couldn't see much" beyond the smoke, he said. It's likely the truck was parked at a loading bay on the far side of the building, he said.

Responding to the call were fire crews from East Allen Township, Allen Township, Bath, Hanover Township, Moore Township, Lehigh Township, Whitehall Township, Hecktown, Han-Le-Co, Laurys Station, Catasauqua, Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton Borough and Northampton Regional.

Also assisting were various rescue squads and the Lehigh County Hazardous Materials Response teams.

According to its website, Central Transport is a full-service, privately-held transportation company. The business operates a network of nearly 200 customer service centers and has facilities across 45 states and Canadian provinces, according to the website.

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

Nazareth's Michael Owen uses town as set for independent film, "Control."

Downtown Nazareth traveled back in time Thursday as the production of an independent film lined South Main Street with classic cars and actors clothed in 1960s garb. 

"Control," a movie based on the changing roles of women in the early 60s, was written and directed by Michael Owen, who moved to Nazareth in 2012. 

The movie follows the lives of five women, dealing with everything from marital problems to homicide and detailing the choices they had to make to take control of their lives.

Although Owen has been in the spotlight before, this project is a particularly special one as the idea derived from his own experiences. 

"I grew up with a single mother," Owen said. "I saw her struggle with a male-dominated workplace as a script writer and how upset she got. That was in the 70s."

He added that the 60s was an even worse time for women. The goal of the movie, he explained, is to portray the choices women faced and the ways in which they chose to challenge their assumed submission.

Although a short film of about 25 minutes, producer Beth Clausnitzer emphasized the relevance and importance of the plot's message. 

"Sixty years later and (women) are still facing many of the same struggles," Clausnitzer said. 

The movie's website talks about President Eisenhower administration's new interstate system making it easier for people to venture farther than they ever had, which is something that Clausnitzer views as symbolic to the steps toward equality that women make in the film.

"I think the role of women is so important and, as a woman, I'm proud to be a part of this," Clausnitzer said, adding there are many women on the set who are strong-willed and determined in pursuing their dreams. 

The plot wasn't the only part of the movie that reflected Owen's life, however. Originally from the South, he chose to film in Nazareth because its "quaint and friendly nature" reminded him of home. 

Being from the area, Clausnitzer expressed her appreciation for the borough's hospitality in filming. Not only was everyone welcoming and accommodating -- especially the South Main Street merchants -- but it also gave them the opportunity to showcase local businesses and help local aspiring actors to get in front of a camera, as many were asked to be extras.

Not all actors were local. Mark Kochanowicz, who played the role of Detective John McMahon, came from Philadelphia to audition for the film when he heard about it from Owen, who used to be his agent at the now-closed agency, Heyman Talent East. Owen opened the agency in an effort to get local talent recognized. 

Nazareth talent agency on the hunt away from big city

The filming took place on South Main Street and inside the old Nazareth Bank. Downtown Nazareth will also be part of the third sequence of filming at the end of June, along with Clausnitzer's family's ice cream store, The Cup, in Bethlehem. 

Editing is expected to take about six to eight months, with a 2018 premiere anticipated. The film then will be submitted to film festivals such as Sundance.

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

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