King George Inn, Tonkins on Trial: Stories to Watch in 2014

Here are five stories bound to make headlines in South Whitehall in 2014:

What will become of the historic King George Inn? 

Developer Atul Patel upset a lot of people when he unveiled plans to demolish the Colonial era building to create a new cluster of shops and businesses at the corner of Hamilton and Cedar Crest boulevards. But, in September, township officials were able to convince Patel to go back to the drawing board and try to come up with a new plan that preserves the building. We are waiting for the new plan to emerge.

What will the Parkland Community Library do next? 

Voters in November rejected a referendum to increase real estate taxes to pay for the construction of a new larger main library on Grange Road in Upper Macungie Township. Though they lost at the ballot box, library officials say new construction is important to the library’s survival and they have not given up on the project.

What will happen to William and Nancy Tonkin?

Nancy Tonkin, South Whitehall Township’s former recycling coordinator and utility supervisor, and her husband, former police Officer William Tonkin, were charged in May with embezzling more than $850,000 from the township between 1999 and 2012. Their criminal cases should come to some resolution in 2014.

Wildwater Kingdom’s $8 million facelift.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is expected to reopen in the summer season with a new six-story tall, $8 million water slide complex as the centerpiece of a refurbished water park that will also include new locker buildings and a shaded market seated area.

How high will Andre Williams go in the NFL draft? 

The Parkland High School alumnus graduated from Boston College on the same December day he received the Doak Walker Award as the most outstanding college running back in the country. The Heisman Trophy finalist finished the regular season with the seventh highest season total of rushing yards in college football history. Some NFL team will come calling, right?