Moxie Momma

Reach Your Kids Before They Reach for Bath Salts

Designer drug may be banned, but then what?

Not since huffing spray paint and aerosols has a more seemingly innocuous product been used to get a high than the so-called "bath salts" that are creating a scare across the country and especially with parents. You can’t even buy a can a spray paint at the Home Depot now without flashing your driver's license. I imagine that bath salts will also follow in this vein if they aren't banned altogether in Pennsylvania and across the country. For parents who don’t know, the common ingredients in bath salts are methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV, and mephedrone. And while the label on the package says they are for 'enhancing the bath,' this is just a clever ruse designed to disguise their real purpose: getting people high. Ingesting MDVP can …

• Photos (1)

Police: Vehicle Stop for Window Tint Leads to Marijuana Bust

Steven Anthony Best and Rogelio Ortiz, both of Coplay, were allegedly the occupants of a vehicle in which Hellertown police reported finding a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

An April 29 vehicle stop in the 700 block of Main Street in Hellertown led to marijuana charges for two men from Coplay, Hellertown police reported in a news release May 5. According to police, the vehicle occupied by Steven Anthony Best, 22, and Rogelio Ortiz, 23, both of 2616 Willow St., Coplay, was stopped at 2:01pm "for having dark window tint, preventing one from seeing inside." "During the traffic stop investigation, a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located," police said in the news release. Best and Ortiz were charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of durg paraphernalia, police said. 

• Photos (1)

Jenae's View

I Beg To Differ

Parents must teach children to be discriminatory in how they help those in need, which can be a touchy subject.

Helping the needy has always been in my blood. I grew up in less than desirable circumstances until I was about 8 years old and learned to appreciate the little things in life. Long story short, I lived across the country in army tents, semi-constructed homes, small apartments and even a converted 1958 GMC school bus for a few years before my parents settled down in a traditional house. I know what it’s like to live on potato soup, canned beans and oatmeal. I know what it’s like to get cardboard creations as Christmas gifts. Looking back, I am so thankful to everyone who helped us through those tough times. We didn’t ask to be poor. It was just the way things happened. Kind hearts made our lives a little easier. Despite our circumstances, …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Borough Resident Implores Council to Ban 'Bath Salts'

On Monday, Michele Gubish told Hellertown Borough Council members that her son was recently hospitalized for 18 days after legally purchasing the synthetic drug from a local business.

An emotional parent pleaded with Hellertown Borough Council to do something about the sale of so-called "bath salts" in the borough, at council's Monday night meeting. Borough resident Michele Gubish told council members that her son, David Gubish, was hospitalized for 18 days in April after consuming bath salts that he legally purchased at Lukoil in Hellertown. "He's made some really dumb decisions, no doubt about it. And the worst decision he's made is to purchase some synthetic drugs named bath salts," she said during the courtesies of the floor portion of the meeting. "He spent a week on a ventilator," Gubish said. "His kidneys shut down, his liver shut down." "I have never seen anyone cry yellow tears, but he did," she added. Despite …

•  19 Comments
• Photos (3)

Police Say Juvenile Took Car Without Permission, Got in Accident

Hellertown Police Blotter

The following incidents have been reported by the Hellertown Police Department:

• Photos (1)

Report: Lower Saucon Drug Deal, Shooting Ends with State Prison Sentence

Whitehall man, 29, sentenced for 2009 crimes on Leithsville Road

A Lower Saucon Township drug deal gone wrong sparked a shooting in 2009 and has now led to a state prison sentence for the shooter, according to a Morning Call report. Louis Betances, 29, of Whitehall, was sentenced Monday for the crime that took place in the 2000 block of Leithsville Road.

• Photos (1)

Man Forged Checks, Stole Jewelry, Police Say

Hellertown Police Blotter

Police say 33-year-old Lower Saucon Township resident Ryan Green was arrested March 22 on a warrant for forgery, theft and receiving stolen property, after allegedly cashing forged checks and stealing jewelry valued at $4,000. For additional information about this and other alleged incidents, refer to the Hellertown Police Department blotter below:

• Photos (1)

Man Cited for Allegedly Sending Harassing Text Messages

Lower Saucon Township Police Blotter

Lower Saucon Township Police say Chad Humbert Hummer, 28, of Green Lane, sent harassing, expletive-laden text messages to a 21-year-old Lower Saucon woman. The following incidents have been reported by the Lower Saucon Township Police Department:

• Photos (1)

Local Police Chiefs, Investigator Discuss Crime and Public Safety

Chiefs Robert Shupp and Guy Lesser and Police Investigator Christopher Leidy were joint presenters at a recent Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

A joint presentation by Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp, Lower Saucon Police Chief Guy Lesser and Lower Saucon Police Investigator Christopher Leidy was the highlight of a Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Lower Saucon Town Hall Feb. 23. Called "Protecting Our Community," the updates by the chiefs covered everything from crime-related casino impacts in Hellertown to identity theft. Both Shupp and Lesser also discussed their backgrounds, which combined, include decades of service to the Saucon Valley area. Shupp, a 1994 graduate of Nazareth Area High School, has been with the Hellertown Police Department for 11 years. He began his career as a patrolman and after six years was promoted to investigator, before…

• Photos (9)